MHSHS Reading Group discussion

During the Winter Break and in conjunction with the EPIC poem, The Ramayana, there are elements of the Storyteller. As there has been in every unit from around the world, The Art of Storytelling as a means of passing down cultural memories and histories. This is your space to publish your edited, ORIGINAL creative FICTION short stories. Due-April 1, 2010 --200 points

1. All submissions must first be peer edited by at least three other people.
2. Final edits must come through me before publishing on this site.
3. Your name and P1, P6, P7 or P8 must accompany submissions.
4. Hard Copies with your name and P1, P6, P7 or P8 must be put in your Writing Folders.
5. Reminder, these fields only hold 8,000 characters, so be sure to create chapters or short submissions, re-submit as Part II and Part III, for longer pieces
6. Every scholar is required to publish a story here or within the other Storytelling sections (Poetry or Alternate Endings).
7. Deadlines: April 1, 2010
8. No profanity or extremely graphic or gory materials.
9. LOCAL COLOR, DIALOGUE, SENSORY IMAGERY--a must.
10. NOTHING published without my prior approval.
11. All submissions will have a presentation element-perform your story or portions of it-just I have demonstrated with "Maliki's Heat" in P6 and P7 back in mid-February.

Have fun!!!

Maliki’s Heat
by Lanier Carson

Felicia rustled the red silk sheets, blinking into the jagged rays of early morning stabbing into the room where Maliki had forgotten to close the drapes completely. For him, it wasn’t a problem. The sun was not waking him up just now. But it gave her a moment to reflect.
“You are my light,” she whispered in a croaky first-words-of-the-day voice. She smiled, crookedly, rolling out of the warming rays and the slick sheets drew tight around her voluptuous body. A cocoon. She felt safe.

Hours later, she awoke again, only to find Maliki gone, the shades closed and a note taped to her night lamp.

“Practice till 2.”

That meant the game wasn’t until five, she and the kids should be ready before three to meet him for a late lunch at the pool.
She was glad that these last two games, if necessary were here in Miami, which meant a more relaxing schedule than the last few weeks back and forth to California and that one jaunt to New York. Not for the Regional Championship Series. No, that time it’d been to witness his 10, 000th points, on his way to his third straight MVP award and the fiercely contested Game Seven of the series. The Knicks were BACK, but they couldn’t outlast Maliki’s Heat.
All the Heat had to do was win tonight, and Maliki would have his seventh ring in nine years, another record of sorts. At 31, Maliki was the first player to earn that many National Championships in one decade.


Felicia walked over to the floor-to-ceiling bay windows, reveling in the magnificent view of Biscayne Bay of their South Miami estate. Of all their properties, this was her favorite.

Yet, something was missing.

Opening the French doors and walking barefoot under the latticed portico, she sipped her cappuccino. A strong ocean breeze brought that fresh smell of saltwater around her like the silk sheets from a few minutes ago. Her soft black feet left temporary imprints on the NBA motif titles with large carving S, with NBA basketballs in each curve of the upper and lower Ss. The Olympic-sized pool in the shape of a hoop completed the basketball motif. Another acre down the sloping landscape the sunlight danced between the small rippling waves and she could clearly see dark shimmering clouds beneath the undulating emerald green ocean. These schools of fish darted to and fro and Felicia wished she could be with them, just there, beyond the edge of their manicured lawn, with its gazebo and two large 5-people tents where the boys had been camping out for the last few weekends.

“I’ll have to get them to move those today,” she muttered to herself, drinking her cappuccino, looking down at the short durable zoysia grass, missing the longer, more lush blue grass from her childhood Northeast home in Rhode Island.

“Ma, what’s for lunch,” Azumi called, breaking Felicia from her reverie. That was her eldest. Twelve going on 35, and always hunger. He was already taller than her and thin as a rail, which made it even more miraculous where he could possibly be putting all that food.

“Are there any hot dogs,” Tadenikawo followed close behind. Ten and nearly the complete opposite of Azumi and Maliki. Taden, was all hers, she thought. Not only was he more physically like her, thinner, shorter and with lighter skin and those same almond-shaped eyes, making him look a bit Occidental, he had that knack for picking up on peoples’ true emotions and reading them better than most adults. Because of this, Tadenikawo was also more inquisitive, asking and searching for more answers very much like Felicia. Not that Azumi wasn’t quick, his deep intense eyes took in things, and he simply didn’t empathize or perhaps didn’t care as much about others. Also like his father, Azumi’s full shock of kinky hair, rich dark chocolate eyes and even darker skin. No matter what Maliki and Felicia had done to try to create a more aware young pre-teen, Azumi was his own person. They had come to accept that, and in that, Azumi was a carbon copy of his father. Felicia had come to cope with that, retreating into the age-old parental adage, “pick your battles”. So, she would wait for a tougher clash that would be far more important, more potentially detrimental to his over all character or well being and dig firmly in when the time came for the resolve that would be necessary for that inevitable “battle”.

“You know good and well, there aren’t any, nor will there ever be any HOT DOGS in this house,” she rubbed his cheek, planting a kiss on his other cheek.

“Awwww,” Tadenikawo moaned, wiping the kiss from his face. “Kevin’s mom lets them have them.”

She hugged Azumi, reaching the plates above him, after putting her cup on the counter. She pinched his cheek and kissed his forehead.

“Before lunch, move those tents to another spot so they don’t kill the grass,” she said, turning on the stove and pulling things out of the refrigerator.

“But we can’t wait that long,” Taden called.

“Look,” Felicia nodded toward the Zojirushi pressure cooker, “what does that timer say?”

“Ten minutes and thirty-one seconds….thirty….twenty-nine…..,” Tadenikawo counted.

“That’s when the rice is done, and that’s when your lunch will be ready.”

Tadenikawo gave her that puppy-dog big-eye look, lower lip pouting mournfully. She smiled.

“OK, mom,” Azumi took charge, grabbing his little brother and running out to move the tents

In spite of herself and all of this, something was missing.


______________________________________________________________
That night it was all Maliki, especially since the Heat had won the sixth game, winning another Championship Title, and she and the kids knew this. They had become old pros at being window dressing for the Star Attraction. This was what Malia and Sasha and every other presidential child must feel like. After all, living with Maliki Babasola Mamoon, was even more impressive than being the president of the free world, for more people loved their dad than would ever love any president. More people cheered for him more nights of the year and they appreciated what he did; entertained while slamming home that rock, spinning, twisting and faking out opponents to deliver another 2-point goal, or the occasional the “and-one” follow-through Free Throws. The Show of shows! And no one delivered better than Maliki.
So here they were now, cute adornments to the star of the Miami Heat, being held high like the trophy just earned, being kissed for show, in the glow and flashes of the cameras, bright sunshiny smiles, truly happy for their father and all his success.
She stayed not too far off, ready to scoop them up and out of the photo-ops and back to the safety of secured grounds, acres and acres of land and a staff ready to help better than any 5-Star hotel.
________________________________________________________________

Three Years Later….
“Azumi, what’s this about,” he asked, holding up his eldest’s mid-year report card.

The teen’s room was larger than most basketball courts, complete with its own teak inlaid Study desk, and matching four padded plush leather and teak chairs. Underwear, sweaty jerseys and a life-sized Nerf basketball lay in one of these. The table’s glass table top was covered with a few Chemistry, Math, Global and English books, mostly still looked brand new and rarely opened. Plenty of black, red and gold Mardi Gras beads, from their last Fat Tuesday Zulu Parade in New Orleans hung from the corner of his vanity dresser mirror, nails in the walls, the Panasonic 103-inch Plasma with its LCD wide screen projector ensconced in the ceiling, and some necklaces were hanging from doorknobs to his bathroom.

Posters of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and, of course his dad, adorned the other walls. Johanny and Mery, two up-and-coming models, had replaced Shaq who, according to his dad, was a beast before he’d become the coach of the Heat. It was hard to imagine such a big beefy man on the courts, but there were hours and hours of HD digitals to prove it. Of course the Big Man had put on a dozen or so pounds after retiring, one could easily see. What had pleased Maliki more, perhaps, than his own stills floating above the others, gliding to lay it in, were that some of the fading posters had been replaced by Jessica White, Daniella Sarahyba, Lauren London, Jessica Alba, Gabriella Union and two newer girls, Tierra and Britteny, who were both bottom heavy, though Tierra’s hourglass figure was something to behold, while Britteny remained wanting north of the border.

Along another wall was a full-sized plastic, “break-away” hoop high above three bookshelves with dozens of children’s books from the complete Nelson Mandela “Favorite African Folktales” Series, The Bluford Series, Sharon G. Flake, Sharon M. Draper and Walter Dean Myers’ complete works, to Steven M. Wise’s Though the Heavens May Fall, Richard Attenborough, Richard Wright, Langston Hughes’s complete collections of Simple Sings the Blues Series, Maya Angelou’s autobiographical series, dozens from Nikki Giovanni, Terry McMillan and Toni Morrison to Miriam Makeba’s autobiography, everything Chinua Achebe ever wrote, including his essays and film work. To be honest, Felicia had transferred a few of these directly from her personal library in the hope that her eldest would be inspired to crack some of the more serious ones open and read them on his own. In time, she believed, and with a little prodding, he’d become interested in the histories and stories beyond those read to him as a toddler or in middle school.

“Pops, Imma be just like you,” Azumi called casually, chewing the biggest wad of gum, reaching into the mini Electrolux three-shelf refrigerator similar but one-third the size of the one in the kitchen two floors below. His was stocked full of Energy bars, electrolyte-charged drinks and frozen treats in the bottom freezer compartment, hiding smaller bottles of Gran Patrón Burdeos and Chopin among other gear.

“What does that have to do with school?” Maliki snapped, ready to get in his face.

“Absolutely nuthin’,” he said, grabbing a sugarless power water drink and downing it. Throwing it in a perfect arc the plastic bottle noiselessly netted in the hoop and rattled to the trashcan directly below. “Dat’s da point, pops.”

“Come again?” handing the report card to Azumi.

“You turned out awesome without finishing college, making all the monies, with all this.” He lazily swept his arms around, dropping the report card and nearly losing his balance. “Imma do the same. I gots skills!”

“What?”

“You got drafted from Georgetown yo second year, so why should I even botha wit’ hittin’ da books. None dat shit even worth a damn.”

“Hold up…”

“Common, pops, you ain’t opened a book, done no math problem or dealt with any stupid-assed science projects since pickin’ up dat rock.” He tossed the report card on the glass table and grabbed the Nerf basketball.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“All I do know, and you do too, you seen all dose scouts be at nearly every game, with me lightin’ up the lanes, seven triple doubles in the last ten game, ain’t nobody can touch dis,” he said spinning, weaving between imaginary opponents before slamming into Maliki, who’d adroitly maneuvered under the hoop, jamming the ball back onto the unmade king-sized bed. No matter how much Axe or how many sticks of gum, his father was not blind to his bloodshot, dilated eyes and the skunk reeking from Azumi’s hair and clothing.

“Wait,” Maliki said, trying to remain calm. “Just because a few scouts be scoping your skinny ass out you think they gon’ draft you right out of high school and yo moms and I would simply let you go?”

“Dead-ass!” Azumi mimicked juking another invisible player pulling a reverse lay-up. “Da sooner I be rakin in da Benjamins, da rocks, and da tan’, da sooner I can move inna my own spot.”

“Boy, you must be trippin’! Sit yo dumb ass down.”

Azumi hadn’t seen his pops this upset…ever. Eyes bugging, he sat, mouth catching gnats had there been any, the bright green wad of gum nearly falling to the carpeted floor.

“First off, you may have skills, but you are still too young. You have so much more to learn, to grow. You don’t understand the hard work and time necessary to be a pro. You have no idea of all the difficulties, the sacrifices, the pressure I had starting out. For the first two years I didn’t get as much playing time because the coach hadn’t agreed with my acquisition. He refused to play me as often as the owner wished. There were problems between some of the older players, too. Then the trades. You were too young to remember any of this. You think it’s all glory and getting rings. I got extremely lucky. I was this close to losing it all. These don’t come easy, son,” he finished holding out his Diamond championship ring.

“I know all dat,” Azumi said, not looking forward to that ‘hard-work’ speech he’d gotten often enough. From teachers, counselors and moms.

“No, I don’t think you do,” Mor-Talla exclaimed. “Remember Uncle Rick? If I’d known a bit more about finances and how to manage my own sh*ts, we wouldn’t have lost a friend when he stole millions of dollars from me. Not understanding the science of things and how the markets and investing works has also cost me time and money.”

“So, make another sneaker commercial,” Azumi muttered. “Problem solved.”

“You’re not getting it. It’s not about the money, it’s about relationships. It’s about understanding how the world works a little better before making the wrong moves.”

“Common pops, look around. Whatever screw ups, you done plenty right.”

“Sure, I got lucky. There are millions out there who…”
Oh, sh**, Azumi fumed, turning to take another shot, missing. I shouldn’t have said anything, he thought. Now he’s gonna ramble on about all the LOSERS who didn’t make it to the Show. I’m nothin’ like ‘em.

“…if you get injured before you get drafted or what about knocking up some hoochie mama!”

“Dat ain’t me, ” Azumi was drawn in now, something he promised himself he’d avoid at all costs. Didn’t want to ruin his buzz. “I’m not like ‘em losers. I’m careful….”

“Right, like driving home stoned with friends who are drunk, flying or tweaking their a***s off, too?”

“…and I’m betta ‘n’ you were at my age, even coach says so.”

Even as it was happening, Maliki wished he could’ve stopped himself. Sure the boy needed to be snapped back into reality, and as his hand came down sharply smacking Azumi across the face and again rising one back slap across his mouth. Azumi was more stunned than mad, rubbing the blood from his rapidly swelling lips. What happened next surprised them both, but perhaps the bud mellowed the effects of the blows, because Azumi started laughing. At first it was a shocked gasp of air escaping from his throat that sounded so much like a gag one emits when trying to hold that hit a little too long, and that only triggered Azumi’s recent memories and this developed into a full-blown laugh.

“Son,” his father began after a minute of watching the laugh recede. Then, grabbing Azumi’s shoulder and lightly shaking him, “I’m so…”

“Don’t,” he pulled away, suddenly silent, sullen, “…sorry me.”

But Maliki wasn’t having it, “…disappointed. I’m so disappointed.”

“So am I,” Azumi yelled.

“Son, you walk into my house stoned off your a**,” he struck him again, this time blood began running from his son’s nose. Then grabbing him before he could retreat, he turned him to face him. This time, Azumi pushed off but his father, at 6’7”, outweighed him a good 100 pounds and more than two decades of street and pro ball took hold. Maliki brought his arms under the teenager’s, grabbing his throat in his left and lifting him a foot off the floor and slamming him into shelves of unread books, just under the hoop Azumi had just been rejected at. The force sent the bookshelves tumbling, the mangled plastic hoop rolling down Maliki’s muscular back as blood and books, trickled down between Maliki’s arms hitting Azumi’s kicking suspended legs.

“You have the f***in’ balls to laugh at this report card,” he spat into Azumi’s face. “Actin’ a fool, too stupid to use the brains God gave you, spouting all this s**t that you’re some gifted invincible Super Star who’s careful and doesn’t need an education! What the f&^% did you expect?”

“Dad!”

It was Tadenikawo, standing frozen near the overflowing hamper in the doorway.

Suddenly he realized he’d been shaking Azumi in his rage, though Azumi had struck him several times, Maliki hadn’t registered until Taden’s piercing yelps broke through.

Felicia was running past Taden, suddenly yanking her husband off her son, Azumi collapsing into her arms and to the floor.

“What the hell did you do?” Felicia cried, slipping on the overturned trashcan, discarded clothing and books. “Azumi, can you hear me? Azumi, it’s mommy, wake up, honey. Azumi, wake up!”

End of Part 1

Ella and Nathan
by: Sayda Marquez

On a beautiful night under a big oak tree sat a young girl named Ella Yvette. She was the most beautiful girl in the village. Her father, the chief, protected her from people who wanted to harm her. She thought about life and started to sing.

Suddenly she felt a gentle, soft touch on her shoulder. Ella turned around slowly, afraid of what was behind her.

"Hello," somebody said.

"Umm, hi," Ella replied.

"My name is Nathan," he said.

He was a wealthy, strong and smart man just like Ella's character.

When they met, they fell in love, it was love at first sight.

They spent their time together talking about what each other liked.

"So what’s your father’s name?" Nathan asked one day.

"Francis … Francis Yvette" she replied.


Nathan’s face turned red, walking away.

"What’s wrong?" Ella asked.

"That can’t be possible," Nathan explained.

Their love wasn’t meant to be, their villages were enemies since like forever.

They decided that nothing was going to separate them, nothing was going to destroy their love, they met under a big oak tree so no one could see them and go running to tell their parents.

One day Ella left the village as usual she had some big news.

"Nathan," she said, "I wanted to tell you that umm I’m pregnant,".

"That’s the best thing you could ever tell me," nathan responded.


"I am going to ask for your hand tomorrow no matter what,", "I love you,", Nathan said excitedly.

They both knew this was going to be a big conflict between their villages but they couldn’t say no, she was pregnant now.

But unfortunately for Ella her greatest enemy had seen her leave the village and followed her to where Ella and Nathan met all the time, when she saw what was going on she ran to Francis and told him everything. She was jealous after seeing all the love Nathan gave to Ella.

When Ella returned, her father was so mad he forced her into marrying a fine and wealthy man of the village, she told him she was pregnant but nothing else mattered to him.

The next day she sent a message to Nathan telling what was going on but Nathan never responded. Ella was forced to get married, later she found out Nathan had been killed. She had a baby boy, she named him Nathan, in memory of her beloved.

Saymon Prity
Princess tail

One, two, three……. she counted the lonely days in a mansion that she spent waiting to be saved by a prince that she always dreamed of. The problem is the mansion was cast in to a spell by her evil stepsister Susan who loathed her because she was beautiful and everyone of her neighbor loved her. She was named Melody because she had a beautiful voice and she could sing like an angel. The spell was that she could not leave the mansion until Susan died or got married.
There was a maid in the mansion and her name was Grace and she loved Melody as a sister because they grew up together working and cleaning for Susan. Melody and Grace got so close that they could not live without each other. Everyone admired their friendship. Even though Melody could not go outside Grace could and she would come back with wonderful stories to tell Melody. But everything was about to change in that one cold rainy day……
“Melody…. Melody…,” yelled Susan.
“What is it?” asked Melody
“I am getting married.”
“I am so happy for you,” melody replied “but to whom?”
Susan did not know either and she said the cutest boy in the neighborhood was going to be her husband. Everyone knew and she knew as well that no one was willing to marry her unless they were forced to. Just as she was thinking that the door bell rang…
Susan yelled, “Grace, Get the door!”
Grace came running and found Susan three feet away from the door even though she was so close to the door she did not get up to answer the door. When Grace opened the door she found this handsome young guy standing there. When Susan saw him she wanted him. She told him to come in and his name was Angel. As Melody was coming down the stairs to give Susan a glass of water Angel could not stop looking at her because of how beautiful and wonderful she was. Susan did not like that at all and decided to kill Melody because she thought Melody would ruin everything. So when Melody was sleeping Susan went in to the room with a gun and shot her. Everyone was sad and Susan was acting like she just lost her own sister that she loved and cared for. She was crying as well but Grace knew exactly what happened and she knew exactly what she had to do.
One month later….
Everyone was preparing for Susan’s marriage and everyone was excited even though no one liked her but they just wanted to go for the food that the best chefs around the world were cooking. Grace thought otherwise.
It was time for the wedding and everyone was having fun .When Susan and Angel were about to be pronounced Husband and wife someone came with a mask on and shot Susan and she died on the spot. Angel was shot too because the person behind the mask did not like Angel for marrying Susan when he knew she was the cause for Melody’s death. After that the person behind the mask left everyone ignored what happened that night and celebrated because no one cared if Susan and Angel were dead or alive. Grace was the one behind the mask and she did miss her best friend Melody but she was happy Susan died too. And then one night after 20 years later when Grace was driving she died in a car accident.

What the Freak…?
by Ka Min Lee

“You are sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder”, the judge decided.

Two days earlier…

A man by the name of Gao Chiu Liang emigrated from China to the United States of America in the summer of 2003.Seeing that the country was harsh to its newcomers; Gao Chiu decided to learn its God-forsaken language, English.

“Hmmm, ngo deem yeung haw yee hok ying mun le?” he asked himself. (In Cantonese Hmm, how can I learn English?)

“Ohh ngo haw yee huy yeet lau go day fong huy teng yut teng go dee may gok yun gong mut ye,” Gao Chiu suggested to himself. (I could go to very populated places to see what the Americans are saying). After deciding where to go, he went to his brother’s house in Brooklyn, New York City, to stay for the trip. The next day, Gao Chiu decided to go to Atlantic City for the casinos. The bus ride from New York City to Atlantic City was very long and living through the two and a half hours on the bus was a daunting task. But, at last he arrived.

Man was it grand. There was the famous boardwalk the place was known for. There was the amusement park ride section where the minors went because they could not enter the casinos. The helicopter reserve was for people who want enjoy the city from an aerial view. And then, there were the casinos, Gao Chiu’s priority. Gao Chiu only had time to go to one casino, so he decided to go the Trump Taj casino. There was an entry fee of five dollars, but Gao Chiu paid it anyways. He went to observe a Blackjack table.

“Yes I did it, yes I did it!” Winner of Blackjack exclaimed as he got an ace and a king. Gao Chiu took this into consideration and assimilated the phrase to his bank of learned words. After seeing the shouts and pouts at the casinos, he was very hungry. He decided to go to a high class restaurant to see how upscale folks acted.

“With a fork and a knife, with a fork and a knife,” he heard one gentlemen say when teaching his child to cut up a piece of steak. Another sentence learned for his phrase bank.

Just then, a waiter led him to the exit because he was not in proper dress, a suit with a tie. Gao Chiu did not care anyways because he had little money on him. He bought pork fried rice from a local take out Chinese restaurant and that was his lunch. Exhausted, took the bus back to his brother’s place in Brooklyn because it was getting kind of late. It was a pretty bad neighborhood where gunshots and fights happen often. There was a quarrel taking place and Gao Chiu went to observe what was going on. There seemed to be two men arguing over a woman.

“Like I give a rat’s booty,” the first guy said smirking in front of his adversary’s face.

“Oh, you gon get it son,” the other guy replied pulling out a Glock. Everyone, including Gao Chiu, who mobbed around the scene ran for their lives. For some reason, no gunshot was heard, but Gao Chiu did not want to stay a minute longer to see the outcome. He went home and ate dinner in solitude. While lying in bed, and replaying the day in his head, he practiced the phrases he had learned so far during his two days in America.

The next day, Gao Chiu decided to go to the local flea market because it seemed populated there. There was, yet, another scene with many people crowding around something.

“Yuw fot sung mut ye see ah?” Gao Chiu questioned out loud. (Now what happened?). He went through the crowd and ran to see what happened because curiosity took over. He finally arrived at the scene and was shocked to stumble upon a dead body.

“Bean gaw gum jzo gah?” Gao Chiu stared at the corpse, wide-eyed. Upon hearing this, an officer approached Gao Chiu and asked him, “Hi sir, this area is restricted unless you are a witness to this crime, now may you please go.”

Gao Chiu was mixed with so much fear and confusion that he blurted out his first learned phrase, “Yes aiy deed eat, yes aiy deed eat!”

Everyone was now silent and looked at him. Another cop asked him, “What did you kill him with?” Gao Chiu was in a state of quandary and answered quickly, “Weef a fawk an a nie-foo, weef a fawk an a nie-foo,” his second learned sentence.

“You are under arrest,” the cop said and cuffed Gao Chiu, who was now in a state of panic.

“Lie aiy geef a wat’s boo tee,” Gao Chiu shouted nervously. The cops and everyone else were laughing.
In a local prison, Gao Chiu was given a translator who told him about all the things that could happen.
“I was framed!!” Gao Chiu exclaimed.

“Calm down,” the translator told him, “nothing big will happen” The very next day, the jury decided their verdict: “Guilty.”

“You are sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder,” the judge decided. After the translator told Gao Chiu about his fate, he was angry, so he bawled. But, that did not help anything and he was sent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons prison in Brooklyn.

“Ngo zhun huw fuey lay may gawk,” Gao Chiu said aloud. (I really regret coming to America).

Just then, Chuck Norris just came out of nowhere and beat the security guards up who were playing cards. He bent the prison bars and grabbed Gao Chiu. As they sprinted outside, Norris pulverized everyone who came in the way. Norris moved with such alacrity that even the sniper fainted.

“Only the truth is right,” Norris said to Gao Chiu while they were running.

“Yes aiy deed eat, yes aiy deed eat,” Gao Chiu replied. Norris just frowned at him and they continued their way. The two ran until they reached the Chuck Norris Ranch in Greenland.

The End

Different
Being a freak in high school is the last thing that I wanted. When I was attending middle school in America, I used to think that high school would be just as fun as it was on the media. I would be one of those popular kids as I always was, who loved wearing Abercrombie & Fitch, I will have my own crowd of people, and I will be able to get any types of girls I want. But it never occurred to me that I would be a freak, who, is disliked by everybody. Anyone can find his own places in high school but me, who was trying his butt off to fit in without succeed. High school stinks, trust me, I know.

My name is Wilson Jackson. I am a black kid who immigrated with my parents to China from America three years ago. I am very tall and thin. I have a little curly black hair, a flat nose, and two big black eyes. I used to live in the Bronx, one of the boroughs of New York City, but now, I am living in one of the biggest cities of China called Guangzhou. Guangzhou is nothing like what I used to think the cities of China were. It is a modern city, you can see a lot of fancy cars on the street, malls and shopping centers are everywhere. The subways are a lot faster and prettier than the ones in New York City. But I do not like the weather, it is always really hot in here, you can see people in shorts even in December. The air pollution problem is pretty serious. Some Chinese people are really rude, they are so loud that they can make you go deaf: they never say thank you and sorry, and they are pretty racist toward our people.

During these three years, I had grown up so much more than my peers due to the fact that I always have to face a lot of obstacles, such as learning subjects in a new language. But I also hate my life in China so much that I would trade everything that I love just to go back to America and get back to my normal life. I will never forget the day, when I cried my heart out to beg my parents not to bring me to China, however, I was ignored by them. All they ever cared about was their business. They told me, “honey, America was going through economic tough times right now, and that their business would have a better chance to survive in China. However, I was too young to understand this kind of stuff.

The first day of school was incredibly tough for me. Being a new kid in a school without knowing anyone is already tough enough, not to mention that I was a new BLACK kid in a Chinese high school. Everybody was staring at me like they were seeing a monster when I passed by. Some talked about me behind my back, some called me Hei Gui(nigger), some were afraid of me, even the teachers. I tried really hard not to cry, or even care as my mom told me this morning, “ you are you, no matter what kind of shoot people say to you, just keep you head up.. I tried to tell myself that they were just a bunch of nerds who were boring and not as cool as me. But tears were still brought to my eyes. My first period was Chinese Literature, I didn’t understand a single darn thing that the teacher was teaching in class, same went with my math and science class, even English class due to the Chinese accent of the teacher. I always sat in the back so that I would not be so visible. I slept in every class because I wanted to avoid the eye contacts from my classmates. The teachers didn’t care, which was great, because that was exactly what I wanted. When I was in America, my favorite period was lunch period, but now, I would kill to cut this period, although I loved Chinese food. After I grabbed my lunch, I worried about who I was going to sit with. But I guessed I would just sit alone, nobody wanted me here anyways. I opened my lunch box, and smelling three of my favorite Chinese Dishes, “包子” (filled steamed buns), “锅贴” (fried dumpling), “糖水” (sweet Cantonese soup). When I just about to eat them, I realized that instead of using a knife and folk, Chinese used chopsticks. Well, I could not hold them like a normal person, I helped myself with my hands to eat. Suddenly, two Chinese boys came over to my table. I thought they were being friendly with me, so I said, “ Yo, what is up? Bro.”

They laughed, and I laughed with them until they punched me in my face. They punched me so hard that I could not see for a second, they continued to hit me in my stomach, kicking my butt, and calling me Hei Gui until a teacher stopped them. I came home with lots of bruises on my face like a gangster and my clothes were torn off, I looked in the mirror, realizing that I looked like one of those crazy people in NYC subway stations. Why can they not accept people who are different from them? I remember back home, people of different races can be living peacefully together without having any major problems. I knew there was no way I was going to go back to that school again, the staring, bullying, and teasing, nobody was deserved to be treated like that. Plus, I did not learn anything from that stupid school anyways. So I decided to convince my mother to let me transfer to another school, if not, maybe homeschooling. But guess what my mother told me, “Baby, if you got bullied in school, you and I can go to the principle and tell them what happened, but changing school and homeschooling are not options, it doesn’t make a difference if you transfer to another school. As for homeschooling, don’t be ridiculous, your dad and I are very busy, we cannot make time for you. Besides, we are not sending you to school to be liked but to get an education, so that you can be a better person in the future. I am afraid that you just have to suck it up.”

As hearing what she said, I could not help but shouting, “I cannot get any f-ing education in that loser high school, how can I ever get an education without understanding what my teachers are teaching in class. ”

My mother was shocked by my overreaction, but instead of yelling at me, she said to me patiently, “it is going to be ok, honey. I know how you feel, it is very tough for any teenagers to start in a new environment, but you just gonna have to give it sometimes, things are going to get better for you.”

I realized that one way or another, I still have to be staying in that school for the rest of my high school career. From then on, my life was full of tragedies. I did not learn anything from school because of the language barrier, I did not make any new friends, and I could barely speak Chinese. Future seemed to be far away for me to reach. It did not take a genius to know that I would not be able to finish even high school education. Dropping out seemed to be the only option I had. I know I was letting my parents down, but could they really blame me for all of this?

Now, after dropping out of high school almost for one year, I am still looking for a job. It is very hard to find one without an education, especially when I do not even know how to speak the language, if I only realized that when I was in high school, I would not be having all these headaches right now. However, every time I get rejections from the employers, I keep telling myself, no matter what it takes I have to earn the money to get the heck out of China. America is my home, and it always will be.

Untouchable By Afsana Islam P6

“He’s dead,” apa jaan said. She started feeling around his chest for a beat. She couldn’t find it. There were no rhythmic breaths… no sparkling eyes… no comforting smile.

I remembered a time in the ocean, when I looked up in the skies, thanking Shiva that I had baba jaan in my life. I thanked Him for incarnating me as the daughter of Shekhar Madhav. I devoted my life to Baba jaan, and now he was gone…Did life have any meaning?

“No,” I was speechless.

“Puja, he’s gone.”

“No, he can't be,”

She grabbed me into her embrace, and we cried the rest of the night. Did I do that many sins in my past life that God had to punish me so severely? I thought about how I was going to live life after this day. I wondered if apa jaan would keep me in the cottage and let me work for her like baba jaan would. I had to live my life with the constant reminder that I was neech jaat (untouchable) or in Sanskrit the language of the Brahmin priests, shrude. My mother, Geeta Madhav, died giving birth to me. Baba jaan would tell me she was a beauty, and he was lucky to be married to her. I cried because I felt like I took something very special to my father away from him.

My father raised me with great care. In a society like this, I wasn’t allowed to thank the God who gave me a life with baba jaan. I was yelled at from across the streets that I’m neech jaat and that I wasn’t entitled to the right of crossing the street amongst people who were a higher caste than me in the caste system. I cried when people hit me for worshipping Shiva from afar. I couldn’t even stand near the temple because of my unholy and sinful jaat (race). After my mother perished, I was glad we had apa jaan in our lives. She was the servant of Thakur Rhanvijay Gupta. She begged him for us to stay here in the small hut. She said

“Thakur ji, they will benefit you only you. They will take out the kachra(garbage) and do laborious and maybe even sinful work that will help you. You need them, thakur, they will help you progress in life. You won’t even need to see them, let alone touch them.” Thus, thakur ji agreed.

The next morning, I left the house when the skies stretched with darkish blue and the orange sun was peaking from a savanna of green. I held a black veil to my face so no one would recognize my wretched face. I took the jungle path to the temple. It was easier. I heard the conches blown in the name of Shiva. The priests were rambling mantra after mantra. The closer I got to the temple, the more afraid I was. I had never stepped foot into the temple but I must today. Nothing will stop me from meeting my Shiva for the first time. Nothing will stop me from praying that my father isn’t incarnated as a neech jaat in the next life. Nothing will stop me from asking my Shiva to make me baba jaan’s daughter for the next thousand lives.

I looked to my left then I looked to my right. My feet touched the temple’s sacred marble stairs. It felt as if there was burning coal beneath my feet. This was Brahman’s wrath and my conscience telling me I wasn’t allowed here. I took another step and peeked at my Shiva. I took another step and pulled my hand up to touch the holy bells whose cling and clang captivated everyone that visited Shiva. I reached to touch the metallic golden colored bell.

“Ruk! Stop! Achud kanya! Throw this untouchable out from this sacred pavilion right now! Maro ise! Hit her!” the priest of the temple yelled. The Brahmin stayed away waiting for the people to pull me from the sacred temple of Shiva. Two muscular men pulled my arms and threw me across the temple’s pavilion. Head first, I fell on the first step to the temple and blood from my broken scalp leaked on to the grounds. People gasped and were talking about my unholy, sinful and dirty blood on the temple’s sacred floor. The two men picked me up again and threw me to the dirty tree near the side under shade. It felt as if my brain was leaking out my scalp and my heart out my chest. The men were generous for leaving me under shade. But enough was enough! I was tired of this society aiming a sword of rules and rights at my neck. I was tired of their constant words that pierced my conscience that makes me think I’m lower then I really am. After I felt like I could move my head, I picked up a stick and took it in with me to the temple for protection.

“Kanya! Girl! Where are you headed?! Don’t you dare bring your sinned body in this temple!” the priest said. I took a pinch of red powder from the plate of the priest and rubbed it in the middle of my forehead. Then, I ran to Shiva himself and knelt before him. A blanket of tears covered my vision. I closed my eyelids to remove them because I’m meeting my Shiva for the first time and I want a picture that will last for a thousand lives.

“Shiv ji. Aap ki ageh haat jor te hain. I’m pleading before you, Shiva. Don’t let father be reincarnated as a filthy neech jaat please! We have suffered enough. He loved and served you from afar. We want to worship you primarily the next lives. Please Shiva” I wished.

I opened my hand to touch the sacred feet of Shiva so I could recieve my blessings and I looked at my hands. I was nothing but a filthy untouchable. A disgusting little thorn on the path to religion. What was God going to grant an untouchable? I felt the dirty blood running through my veins, and I put my head down because this was my owkaad, this was what I was what I am known for. I felt shame in begging to God with these impure hands. I felt disgust in my own caste and the blood that made up my body and my life. I knelt there crying and people stared at me while cursing my wretched self. They stood there astonished by my courage. Then, I heard the bells of the temple clinging against the wind, and something soft hit the palm of my hands.

“Hai Ram! Oh Rama!” people started gasping and whispering to each other. The Brahmin priest stood there dumbfounded. I looked at the gift that Shiva left me between the gap of my two hands. It was a flower. One of the most auspicious gifts from God one can receive.

“Kanya? Is that a flower you received from Shiva?” the other Brahmin priest asked.

“Yes sir”

“You see everyone? This untouchable received a flower from Shiva Ji himself. Now you can decide whether this caste system is right or wrong. This girl is definitely allowed in our temple from now on, do you understand me? It is the will of Shiva.” The priest looked at me and touched my head. I felt his holy hand purifying and almost eating away my filth.

“What’s your name, kanya?” he asked.

“Puja. Puja Madhav”

They Call It Life
By Zumana Miyfa P6

Once upon a time, no wait, this is no fairytale. It was a dark and stormy night, the long branches of the tree were scratching against the window of her bedroom. She was there, lying in bed trying real hard to close her eyes. This wasn’t the first time that Kayla had trouble sleeping. Her life was like an empty pit of despair, and it seemed like nothing could ever change that. Things were even harder now since she lost her mother. She was seeing memories again of when she was four years old. Kayla had every reason in the world to be satisfied with two loving parents. Her mother would take her to school every day, holding hands. Kayla’s mother’s warm, delicate hands were unforgettable. She held on with love and care as they strolled through the streets. She also told bedtime stories about mystical creatures. Tears splashed across her face, and she couldn’t stop them. Kayla glimpsed at the clock, it was dark outside, only three in the morning. School was approaching the next day, but that didn’t make a difference. She sat in bed and picked up the black electric guitar that she got for her fourteenth birthday. The chair near the window wasn’t too comfortable. Kayla had a pencil in one hand and some wrinkled paper. She began to write about how she was feeling while strumming the guitar strings. It was important to get all her feelings out. Two hours passed by and she accidentally dozed off in that very chair.

Her alarm rang at six, and what a rude awakening. Kayla’s dad was screaming and yelling as usual.

“Kayla!! Get downstairs now!! School is not gonna wait for you!!!!”

“I’ll be there when I’m ready!!” Kayla said annoyed. “What is your problem?”

She dragged herself from her messy bed throwing the covers to the soft, black-carpeted floor. Kayla loved her room. Each wall was hand painted a different color with different patterns. Kayla was proud of her work, happy finding new ways to express herself. Additionally, she turned to music to help her work things out in life. Each of the walls of her room was hand-painted in a different color with intricate details of various types of flowers and plants. She was a strong believer in nature. And, just like every other adolescent, she had to get ready for school. The tenth grade was no joke for this girl. It was full of drama. To no surprise, she was the outcast amongst all the other students. Kayla was a bit antisocial. No doubt she was a great person, but she lacked the skill of talking to other people. Kayla stayed isolated and often sat in the back of the class, only listening to the teacher. She didn’t whisper to others or talk during class. A year ago, she fell under the influence of drugs. It was extremely hard for her to quit, but she did.

And to make matters worse, she had Caitlyn in her life. That’s right, an annoying little sister of her own. Caitlyn was ten years old. She was too nosy all the time and often stole Kayla’s poems and song lyrics. It would drive her crazy with anger. Caitlyn was also stubborn. She never left Kayla alone, trying to follow her around everywhere.

“Caitlyn, what did you do to my song journal?” Kayla said, with a mean look.

“I don’t have it, I swear. I would never take anything that’s yours.”

Their mother would keep everything in balance and stop all of the arguments and disagreements. She was the peacemaker who died from cancer. It was terrible to watch her die so helplessly. Although Kayla did not have many friends, her best one in the whole world was Eliza. They had so much in common. Eliza was into the same type of rock music. She always wrote poems and stories all the time based on life and love. Nothing could split the two them apart. It is better to have one real friend, then a hundred fake ones. Eliza didn’t make many friends either. She knew Kayla for about a year now. The best thing about high school was seeing Eliza’s bright face every single day. She was a pale, skinny girl with long light brown hair reaching her shoulders. They just had to pass notes to each other during class and get detention, but it was still worth all the trouble.

“Wanna go to my house after school, today?” Kayla asked.

“Of course, you know I’m in.” Eliza answered.

One day when Kayla was coming home from school, she decided to wander off into the woods near her house. She had never been there before. Kayla went really deep into the tropical rainforest. Soon, she was completely surrounded by the largest trees and wet swampy marshes. There was no more sunlight reaching down to the earth. She stumbled near a huge dark green tree with a decent tree house at the top. It was very high up. It took Kayla twenty minutes to ascend all the way up. The inside was amazing, filled with scattered drawings of a different world. There was a place to sit. It even looked like Kayla’s room a little. She was in complete shock to discover such a great place to be alone. The very next day her guitar could be found inside the tree house where Kayla now liked to leave it. Her father didn’t even notice that she wasn’t home as often. However, Caitlyn began to wonder about where her sister ran off to all the time. She was not brave enough to venture into the forest, so she just gave up on keeping track of Kayla. Caitlyn truly loved Kayla, but she could never know that since it was so fun annoying her. If only Kayla was in on the joke, she may have laughed along.

In the summer, Kayla finally took Eliza to the tree house. She really liked it. They spent days in the house until one evening they approached it and could not get inside. Kayla went into their garage and got a saw to cut open the old wooden door.

The two girls sawed the door apart, and a red sparkling light was flashing. They heard voices of strange creatures warning them to keep out. Kayla and Eliza ignored everything and went into the middle of the tree house. They could no longer feel the ground and all of a sudden felt sleepy. When they woke up, miniature flying fairies of all different colors were floating around everywhere. The girls weren’t on earth anymore. Kayla loved this new world. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Eliza was busy talking to all of the strange creatures, from dragons and lizards to mythical birds, dinosaurs, and trolls.

“Hey. What are you guys doing with all of those colorful flowers?” asked Eliza.

“We have to build our underwater home with these flowers and plants. It is the only way for us to live, and the flowers attract small fish for us to eat,” answered the miniature trolls with little wings and long orange hair.

Kayla tried looking for the ruler of the new world, and she quickly found Prince Vincent, who appeared to be a human too. Prince Vincent had many special powers like super speed, invisibility, reading minds, flying, and healing others. His shiny silver hair swayed in the wind as he soared across the sky helping any creature that needed him. Prince Vincent wore a beautiful crown with various jewels on his head. He and Kayla spoke for hours and hours as the sun changed into the beautiful moon and stars.

Life as she knew it turned upside down and right side up and it was wonderful. Kayla fell in love with Prince Vincent after that night. Perhaps, it was love at first sight, but she knew it wasn’t meant to be. They were literally from two separate worlds. She also noticed that she and Eliza were stuck in this mysterious world. Too much of a good was not so good after all. Prince Vincent took them to his old childhood tree house, and it took them back to their old tree house.

“I am afraid this means goodbye, Kayla…, Prince Vincent said sadly. “Now, we can only stay in touch through letters of our lives and our love.”

“I will keep the letters my entire life. And one day, we will be together as soon as I sort out my life and make things right with everyone,” replied Kayla.

He also promised to leave letters for her in the tree house every night. They would both keep in contact and even meet as frequently as possible since they were in love. Nothing could make the moment more perfect. Eliza was also upset with leaving her new strange friends. She would miss them terribly, but at least she didn’t fall in love. Life would go back to normal for her, and it might even be a little better. Eliza should no longer have difficulty communicating with new people even if they were different from her. She gained a sense of confidence and became a lot friendlier. When they returned, Kayla ran back home, rushing passed all the trees, to find Caitlyn and hug her as tightly as she could. She hated admitting it, but she realized that she really missed Caitlyn. All she could do was hope to take Caitlyn into the magical world with her some day. Life just got a bit better because she had discovered true love that would last forever.

Well done, Saymon, Xie, Ka Min and Zumana, however for those BEFORE you submit, please get me copies and READ any book with dialogue. If your dialogue does NOT look similar with the punctuation, FIX IT SO IT DOES.

Here are five of the most common errors I've been editing:

1. PICK Past Tense! You switch constantly from Present to Past and back to Present again!!

2. Start a new P for every new bit of dialogue:

Additionally, punctuation within dialogue needs to LOOK exactly like 98% of all books, newspaper articles and other published dialogue looks. You started out smoothly, then you simply LOST the format halfway through.

Take a look at any book, magazine, or newspaper article with dialogue/quotes, and see the way dialogue and narrative are used.

Ex: "Stop that," Kerri growled, slapping her little brother's hand away.
"What's wrong with you?" Jonnie cried, rubbing his hand. He looked away, thinking of their nights of partying and feeling fine with her smile in his eyes. They had been the best of friends since forever, hanging out whenever and wherever they could. Jonnie was appreciative of her willingness to have him tag along, especially since he was younger and not as knowledgeable as she was. After all, she had taught him how to ride a bike, tell stories and climb stone walls and chain-link fences. He, on the other hand, had taught her how to whistle, to spit and to tell time.
"Nothing," Kerri snapped. "Just leave me alone!"
"Alright, no need to bite my head off," Jonnie replied. “Geeze, I was just trying to help.”
He wasn't going to push it. He knew how she could be when something bigger was on her mind.

Notice the way the dialogue and narrative are sometimes indented, especially when it's starting a new thought, idea or narrative descriptions.

3. Describe "him" "her" or your protagonist or antagonist

4. get rid of ALL (;). You have NO idea when or how to use them and, as I've been saying since Sept., if you haven't bothered to LEARN when to use them you shouldn't rely on Spell Check to simply insert them whenever they say. 99.9% of the times Spell Check inserts this punctuation, you could simply USE A (,).

5. Show don't tell. This story is short, but with a little more Sensory Imagery, well-formatted dialogue and descriptive narrative, you'd have a fabulous short creative fiction piece.

Good luck, only 24 more hours left to publish and there have been about 15 scholars on these three Groups!!

Invisible potion

What is your best wish? Everyone wants to have a superior power that other people do not have. Joe and Jacob decided to make an invisible potion. Can you imagine yourself as an invisible person? You can do almost everything that you wish. Joe asked Jacob’s dad about the chemical reaction to make an invisible potion. Jacob’s dad clarified to both of Jacob and Joe. He said “you guys need a helium, oxygen and carbon dioxide.”


Unexpectedly, Joe and Jacob heard news about an invisible potion. The news said, “Scientists in South Korea are making an invisible potion, and they are looking for people who are interested.” As soon as Joe and Jacob heard the news, they applied themselves immediately, but it took a while to get a respond from South Korea. Joe said “I really wish we can go to South Korea so we can join the project and learn about Korean culture” Finally, they were allowed to go to South Korea and work with scientists on the project. Unexpectedly, cultures were totally different between South Korea and the Americas. For example, Korean people eat rice for every single meal, while Americans eat pasta or burgers. In addition, the way Korean people greet is also different. Korean people bow to elder people while Americans shake their hands. Furthermore, shape of buildings and the all the subway systems are different too. Most of buildings in South Korea are either brand new or it’s been less than five years, because Korean people always renovate buildings to make better. As time passes, Joe and Jacob got used to Korean culture and also they liked the experience about Korean culture they’re also communicate with Korean each other. Jacob asked “Jal gee nae?” (How are you?) Joe replied “Jo wah” (very good)


All the scientists in the project complimented Joe and Jacob while they were in the group. “Nuh hee nuh moo jal han da” (You guys are the best) As people worked together, they could have attained their goals. They finally made an invisible potion but did not divulge to people, because they knew that invisible potion can cause a huge crime. People in the project decided to leave it in the United Nations to detect terrorists. All of the scientists who engrossed in the project, Joe and Jacob felt accomplished. Joe and Jacob also wanted to stay in South Korea, even though the project ended. “Jacob wo ree yuh gee ee ja” (Jacob I want to stay in South Korea) Jacob replied “Yeah I love Korean culture and their food” Since both of Joe and Jacob got used to Korean culture they decided to stay in Korea and learn more about Korean history.

6:10
By: Afsana Mim

Sweat rolling down his forehead and onto his dark, wide pored nose. He can not stand straight. His legs are shaking. His palms are sweaty. Buck doesn’t know what’s going through his head. It seems like everything is still and the clock has just stopped ticking. His face is covered by a horrid smelled black mask, only his small eyes can be seen through the egg-shaped holes. Buck picks up the other black mask and puts it on the person in front of him, who he has never seen. Buck did not want to look at his face, but their eyes meet and he notices those wet eyes are pleading for not to kill him. He looks frightened. His hands are handcuffed and chains hanging from his legs. A guilty feeling taking over Buck’s heart and he feels a lump in his throat. Buck puts the noose on him, and tightens it.

He never wanted to do this. He never even thought about being in this position but this runs in his family. There was a time, when his father and grandfather used to be executioners in this prison. And now his time has come. All the memories of his father are rushing back to his head. Buck remembers the first time his father took him to a carnival and he vomited when he got on the Ferris wheel. Buck still had a good time, his father would hold his hand and talk about his unseen mother. Things are just fast forwarding in Buck’s mind. He comes back to the reality.

“I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” he murmured to himself.

Today is Buck’s first day here. He wants to give up already. His fingers are trembling. He keeps reminding himself that this is his job and he has to do it. Buck rather be killed then to kill someone.
Buck moves him on the metal trap doors. Buck looks at his trembling body for a second and then looks at the prison commandant. The commandant waits a couple of minutes and at exactly 6:10 a.m, he slides his right hand in the air to give the signal to push the lever of the execution. Buck tries not to look at him face to face. He looks down at his feet and puts his hand on the lever. His hand keeps slipping off the lever. Everything becomes silent. Buck closes his eyes and pushes the lever. The metal door opens and just like that, he disappears. Somewhere else. The person that did no harm to Buck lays there, dead. Buck Sadata didn’t know anything about this guy, neither has he known Buck. Yet, they shared the same pain.

Angel Cruz
Fe (Faith)
P7

It was a dark and rainy night when I learned of my cousin’s illness. The sky match the disconsolate feeling in the waiting room, and everyone could not sit down due to the suspense.

The doctor finally stepped into the room and said
“I feel very terrible to inform everyone that Jose only has one month to live. I’m very sorry. We did everything in our power to help Jose but there is nothing else to do.”

My grandma, who cannot speak English said “¡Traducer lo que digo el doctor Carlitos (translate what the doctor said)!”

I hated it when she called me that, it made me feel like a little boy when I was about 15. I told her what the doctor said and she began to cry. We soon realized that when Jose is gone we will lose much more than just a young cousin but a friend, a younger brother and a part of all of us.

Several days pass and we didn’t let Jose know about the truth. We felt that he was too young to know. We also thought the truth might affect him during his last days.

He was becoming curious of things, like he keeps on asking me “¿Por qué llora abuelita cuándo me ve? (Why does grandma cry each time she sees me)”

I would lie to him and say “Well you know who grandma gets, a veces se ve a alguien y se recuerda de ortos (sometimes she just looks at someone and she recalls others), you know what I mean. Let’s go outside.”

Since we knew the truth, I have been playing with Jose in my free time. We played soccer, basketball and went to go eat at his favorite restaurant “Jimmy’s Burgers.” I can still remember the biggest burgers in the world; they were about twice the size of your fists. They also had the best milkshakes, vanilla with chocolate syrup and some cinnamon which brings back good memories. When we were there he told me

“Carlos you been like a brother to me these pass days.” “¿Por qué (why)?”

I told him

“Por que eres como un hermano para mi (because you are like a brother to me).”

That same night I told my family that we needed to tell Jose the truth and pray to God y la Virgin de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe).

The next morning we told Jose about the truth and he cried a little bit, but he was a strong kid.

He said “Thank you for letting me know and for being honest and for hermano (brother) I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my last days here with you.”

That same night Jose had a strange headache, and he requested for us to take him to a doctor. The doctor took an analysis of his body and head.

The sky was clear, the sun came out and grandma told me “Parece que se va en paz (looks like he is going peacefully).”

I respectfully told her to stop saying crazy things and to hope that Jose will be better.

This time the doctor came out with a smile on his face and said “Well I’m very happy to announce that Jose’s tumor has been reduced to a much smaller size and that he is showing signs of recovery.”

I was amazed and excited; it was like a miracle to see him better. Ever since that important event I learned that la próxima vez (next time) keep faith and hope that one will recover, but most importantly I learned that we should appreciate everyone while we can.

Sade Mirabal 3-10-10
P1 Mr. Carson
When Thunder Strikes

One awful, ugly day a man headed out to work. This man’s name was Franklin. His last name was a mystery, because he was very conservative and the number of people that he talked to was very small. He lived in a small town in the Dominican Republic. Franklin was a very lonely man. He once had a wife but she died tragically when she was struck by lightning. Franklin worked in a field picking crops, he hated his job but he always went to work.
One gloomy day Franklin went to go work. He only had a life on the fields since his life was so boring with nothing else to do. His life was horrible, no family, and thought he had nothing to live for. As he worked it began to rain. It slowly began to rain harder and harder. His boss, Don Oscar Ramos, went to him and said, “Estas lloviendo demasiado te tienes que ir,” (it’s raining too much you have to leave.) Franklin said to his boss, “No señor yo me voy a quedar.” (No, sir, I am going to stay.) After a long debate in the strong breeze and heavy rain Don Oscar Ramos gave up, going into the house, where he watched as Franklin continued to work.
After a while the heavy rains came a thunder storm. Franklin kept on working this was the first time that he was happy to be working. He thought to himself this is my time. He would finally be reconnected with his wife if he were able to get struck by lightning, the storm got heavier and legends say that the rain was so heavy that each rain drop felt like a needle piercing threw the skin. The winds got stronger, all of the dirt turned md from the field began to flow in all directions, as the winds got stronger the corn also began to fly away. Franklin began to hear lightning strikes this made him happy “Ya voy estar con mi esposa.” (This is it I will finally be with my wife.), he said to himself.
When Franklin heard the lightning getting closer he dropped the bucket where his collected crops were. Suddenly there was a loud boom and then a horrific zap. This happened three times. He struck three times and nothing happened to him. He was unhappy at the fact that he couldn’t die the way his wife had. Franklin stood in the middle of the field for a couple of seconds, then took the machete that he used to cut the corn and took a quick look around the field, taking the machete he stabbed himself directly in the heart.
The next morning the storm had passed. Don Oscar Ramos came out to look for him in the field. He knew that if Franklin would have left he would have been back by this time. He started to panic as he couldn’t find Franklin and he began to smell something weird. He ran through the fields and suddenly saw a stream of blood. He ran faster and faster after a couple of seconds he saw Franklin’s corpse laying in the middle of the field drenched in blood.

Krisly Perez
P1.

"The Disappotiment"

The bell rang and it was the last day of school before winter vacation. Coming out the door i saw my annoying boyfriend Tony. You must all be thinking that we all kiss. Which we never did because i will alwats reject him because let me tell you his breath stink. So he will always walk me home which i hated because he will always hold my hand and across the street from where i lived there is this hot guy name Jayden which i had a crush ever since i moved over there.

So when we finally arrived in front of my building i said "Bye got to go, see you soon". Turning away from him he pulled me by the hand and kiss me. I wanted to die his bad breath was on me . I push him away. When i finally pulled him off and i turn around to go inside my building i see my crush Jayden i try to run i felt like someone has a gun to my head and if i move he'll shoot.

I finally walked inside my building and he followed me in he called " Krisly " i thought he didnt know my name. When i apporach him i looked at him and his green eyes were staring at my boring brown eye and he asked me.

"So that your boyfriend".

I didnt know what to say because i cant lie to him he saw me with my annoying boyfriend. So eventually i had no choice and i said yes by the look of his face he looked angry. But then i thought to myself why is he mad it not like if he likes me . But right when i was thinking that he told me

" Listen i know that you liked me because i see you all the time staring which it could be queit annoying but he your cute but the point is i really do like you but you have a boyfriend so sorry" .

I didnt know what to say or what to do . Instead i just walk away and said "Bye" . When i got home all i thought was what he said you have a boyfriend it was getting irritating because why didnt he approach me earlier . But i was thinking is how to dumped Tony i dont wanna break up with him in a bad way . Finally, i dialed up and called him phone rang two time . " Hello" . Their was silent then he scream

" Hello !" . Then i finally speaked up .

" Umm Tony i called you to talk about... " .


He totally cut me off and said " I know why you called" . I felt a release he understand then he said " you wanna talk about how great the kiss was". I wanted to die . " No i called to tell you that i dont wanna be with you no more" i said . There was silent until he said " Oh , well bye " . He hanged up . I felt real bad but hey in the other hand i get Jayden.

I went running down the stair going down the stair i here giggling . When i finally get to the first floor i see Jayden with a girl talking, hugging ,and kissing . I stop and froze . I headed back up i felt disappotiment on myself. At the end i didnt get everything i wanted but at least i dont gotta deal with bad breath anymore.

Trip to Saturn

Since I was a little boy, I always was very cures about the Space, different planets and constellations. The idea of believing that there are some aliens living on different planets always fascinated me. I did a lot of research and studied lots of books about the possibilities of other existence. It was my deepest dream to one day go to any planet and be there at least for few hours. I could wear the space suit and walk around the planet and see if there are any aliens living there. So, when my school organized the field trip to Saturn, I was very excited and I couldn’t wait to visit the planet.
I decided to take my younger brother for the trip as he also would like to enjoy the planet. The day of the trip me and my brother were very excited. We met with other students in the front of the school. A big space racket came to take us to Saturn. We had to put special space suits and special helmets. The racket was very interesting inside; it had lots of lights and switches that the astronauts navigated during the trip. There was also no gravity inside the racket, so we were floating around. We ate special pills that were substituting the food and drinks. We were playing a space ball and had other activities that were completely different from things that we were doing on earth.
When we finally get to Saturn, we jumped out of the space ship and started to walk on the planet. We also had a space mobile that was driving us around. We were able to collect small pieces of the Saturn’s surface and take them home as souvenirs. We drove the car for about 30 minutes and we stopped in the small town where very small creatures were working very hard. They were running around and building small houses, small cars and other things. It was very interesting to watch those little people working so hard. Me and my brother made few new friends on Saturn and yes there were aliens. They were very friendly and nice. They lived in small houses and drove very little cars. There were eating seeds and drinking drops of waters.
I really like my trip to Saturn. I was able to finally meet cute aliens and made friends with them. It was really great. I hope my school will organize another trip to other planets soon, so I can meet other creatures. I will never forget Saturn and its little people. It was the best field trip in my live.

The Nightmare in Jamaica Queens

22 hours before incident

Its 2 A.M and Curtis is walking into his deli at his block. It’s cold and chilly outside especially since its winter. Curtis is wearing the usual a 59 Fifty Yankee’s cap, a black marmot, some baggy Levi jeans, a black G- shock, and some ACG boots. Curtis realizes that he has no money, and the security in the deli is heavy. All Curtis wants is some Skittles, and Curtis decides he’ll get it one way or another. While Curtis was thinking what to do next Big Mike, Jason, and CJ walked in the deli. Curtis decides to ask Big Mike for some money. “Ayo Big Mike, got 50 cents I could borrow”. “Yea Curtis I do but I want the 50 cents back tomorrow”, “Aight man thanks,” Curtis bought some skittles and left the store.

12 hours before incident
Its 12 P.M and Curtis just woke up from his sleep. All the skittles were gone and he wants more. Than, he remember he owes Big mike 50 cents. Curtis checks his room and couldn’t find no 50 cents. He decides it’s hard to find money with an empty stomach so he decided to have lunch. Curtis had some fried chicken with Kool Aid. Than, Curtis went back to sleep forgetting that he owes Big Mike 50 cents.

5 hours before incident
Curtis just woke up again, and Carlitos was knocking on his door. Curtis looked at the time and was worried he wasn’t going to give Big Mike his 50 cents. “Yo Carlitos we gonna jump someone for 50 cents you in.”,”Yea holmes”, says Carlitos. So Curtis and Carlitos are waiting in the alley looking for someone to jump. They found one person to jump so Carlitos, and Curtis ran towards the guy and jumped on him, and started beating on him. They didn’t know though that the guy being jumped is with a crew that’s right behind him. The crew saw their friend in trouble so they ran up to Carlitos, and Curtis beat them up, and took 10 dollars from Carlitos. Curtis was knocked out for 2 hours, and woke up at 10 P.M. Curtis just decided to tell Big Mike the truth.

Moment of incident
Curtis saw Big Mike and his crew come down to his block. Carlitos is with Curtis incase he get’s jumped. Big Mike and his boys walk toward Curtis. “AYO Curtis what you been up to lately,” “Ah nothin just chillen with ma home boy.”. “Sooo where’s ma money?” “I don’t know how to say this so here it goes, I don’t have your 50 cents”. “What did you say Curtis, speak up,” said Big Mike. “I said I don’t have your money” “If I don’t get ma 50 cents you gonna get shot boy”. “That’s nice well I’m going home Big Mike, and thanks for the 50 cents”. Before Curtis moved, Big Mike pulled out his gun and shot Curtis 9 times. While that was going on Big Mikes boys was chasing Carlitos to try and jump him. Big Mikes walks up to Curtis’s body and
says, “Good Riddance Curtis”.

After the incident
Curtis was sent to the hospital, got revived. Than, Curtis became a rapper known as 50 cent, joins G-Unit ,and made a movie, and record label “Get Rich or Die Trying”.

Well done Sade, Krisly, Angel, Afsana M., Kevin and Alexander E!!!

Christian, Calvin and Winifer I've deleted your since you have NOT followed instructions on punctuating dialogue, you have uploaded seven different chapters, some smack dab in the middle of a sentence, which I couldn't understand?? and you add profanity AFTER I'd edited a version without ANY in it??? These all go against the prescribed guidelines clearly stated. Fix them, e-me these final edits and get them back up here before Tues. April 6 for partial credit (180 max).

Joando, yours is NOT a creative piece. This is called Non-Fiction, which is what every one of your essays have been as well as that Family Creative Short Story performed a month ago.

The Story, "Maliki's Heat" and any novel you're currently reading is FICTION, or make-believe. Your assignment, as explained to you at least three times, is to create a story about anything you wish into one full of Local Color, dialogue, plot and developed characters. You were to then get it to at least two of your peers for edits and then back to me for final edits. None of this is what was turned in, so please, get it done for partial credit.

Kinga Jakubowska-P1
Unbelievable Summer

Like most eleven year olds, Kinga and her friend Anjelica believed in mystical creatures like unicorns. But everyday at school during lunch, Kinga and Anjelica would fight with these girls, Kassie and Monika who would say unicorns weren’t real. Kassie and Monika would make fun of the two girls for still believing in them and having little toy unicorns. But they didn’t care, they were determined to prove her wrong. That whole summer they read stories about unicorns living in Ireland being spotted by people. Since they were graduating 5th grade this year they would be going to middle school. When going into middle school in September, they found out that Kassie and Monika moved away that summer to Florida. Ever since then they haven’t seen them.

5 years later……

Now Kinga and Anjelica are in high school, living a good life. They soon realized that Kassie and Monika have transferred to there school back in New York. They were in a state of shock, they couldn’t believe what was happening.

When they saw Kinga and Anjelica they said, “Do you two still believe in unicorns?” (laughing)

They replied, “Haha, you guys are funny.”

Kassie said, “If I remember clearly, you two were gonna show us that unicorns are real.”

Anjelica answered, “Yeah, but you ran away to Florida because you didn’t wanna be embarrassed when you found out unicorns are real.”

“Well prove us wrong now,” Monika said.

So Kinga and Anjelica made up a plan of what they were going to do this summer. They were going to travel to Ireland to find a unicorn. When summer rolled along, they needed to get permission from their parents to go to Ireland without them. So each of them told there parents that there is a student program allowing students to go to Ireland for two months. They told their parents they needed 1000$ each for the plane ride, hotel, and food. Eventually their parents agreed and were able to go. When summer arrived, they couldn’t wait because while Kassie and Monika were going to be Hawaii, they were going to be having one heck of an adventure.
When they got to Ireland they settled in a hotel in a place called Castlebar. In their stories it says there is a forest close to Castlebar where unicorns live but you need to find the secret passageway to enter where they live. So there first week, they just relaxed and got to know the place. But in a souvenir shop, they saw a little section of the store with maps that help you get to the forest. At the store they heard a man who was also staying at our hotel talking on the phone,

“I’m gunna get the map so we can connect it with the other piece, we have to get in the forest and become rich for finding them,” he said.

When Anjelica and Kinga heard this, there eyes immediately lit up. So they needed to think of a plan to get into his room and get the other piece of the map. Anjelica thought of one of her “great” ideas to dress up as maid service and pretend to “clean” the room and find the map. Kinga was never a fan of these brilliant ideas but she always ended up doing them. That night while Kinga was taking a shower, Anjelica went downstairs to find out information. She found out that the man’s name was Mr.Cortino and his room was 423. Not only did she find that out but she stole maid outfits from the hotel.

When Kinga got out of the shower Anjelica yelled, “You gotta see what I did!”
In Kinga’s head she knew this was going to be bad but it was a great plan.

“Who knew you were so smart,” Kinga said.

That next day they waited until the Mr.Cortino left his room to go in. When they got into the room, the both of them searched through the whole room until they finally found that secret piece of the map. They ran back to the room and tried to put the piece together. What they found what amazing. Since it was getting dark, they were going to wait till tomorrow to start on their quest.
It was Saturday morning and they couldn’t wait to get going on there journey. Starting off was a nice easy journey. But every nice journey always has its challenges. There was an old broken down bridge that they had to pass even though it was a risky choice. This time, Kinga had a wonderful idea, it was to tie a rope to a tree and tie themselves to it too so if they fell they would be hanging. As they began to cross it they were both terrified. Half-way through it, the bridge started slowly collapsing. They both starting running in fear and barely made it across. Looking at the map a little confused, they were suppose to pass by three mountains. On the secret piece of the map one of those three mountains were suppose to get them to the forest where the unicorns live. Since it was getting late, they needed to find a safe spot to fall asleep.
The next morning, Anjelica woke up because she thought she heard something. She was positive it was a leprechaun. She quietly followed him so he wouldn’t see or hear her. She saw it just run through these two awkward trees and disappear. Anjelica ran and tried to wake up Kinga. But she knew Kinga was very cranky in the morning and waking her up was a bad idea. So Anjelica started dragging her through the grass.

Kinga yells, “Ahhhh what the hell is the going?!?”

Anjelica screamed, “I definitely just saw a leprechaun and it disappeared!”

Kinga says in a cranky voice, “Yeah sure it did. Go back to sleep. You‘re nuts.”

But Anjelica picked her up and splashed water all over Kinga’s face. Now Kinga was definitely awake. They tried to run between the trees but there was some weird force field that they were guessing only allowed mystical creatures. They didn’t know what to do but to wait for another leprechaun to come. They waited for hours but no leprechaun. But suddenly that night they thought they heard one. They started panicking, not knowing what to do so they jumped on it.
The leprechaun started yelling “What the..” while Kinga and Anjelica were on top, dragging it on the floor. When they got through the two trees, they were in some strange magical land.

The leprechaun started yelling at them saying, “You’re not going to steal my lucky charms.”

They answered, out of breath, “Calm down there, buddy we just wanted to see if you knew the unicorns.”

“How did two girls like you find out about this place?” he replied.

Kinga answered, “We‘re smarter than we look.”

“So come follow me,” the leprechaun said giggling.

Well they really never thought they would be following a leprechaun, but since they got this far, they definitely weren’t going back.
The land was gorgeous. There was a waterfall, tons of grass, trees, and right next to the beach. It was like paradise for mystical creatures and heaven for them. As they thought, there were unicorns there too. But spoiling the moment, they all heard something in the bushes. They tried to find out who it was. It was unbelievable, they wouldn’t guessed who it was. It was Mr.Cortino!! He got in but no one knew how. He just began taking pictures of the creatures and then ran out. Kinga and Anjelica didn’t think it was a big deal but the unicorns said that if any evidence went out about are unicorns and leprechauns, they would disappear from Earth. That’s what happened to the other places filled with unicorns and leprechauns. So Kinga and Anjelica helped them out. They each hopped on a unicorn and ran through the portal back into the forest they were in to get Mr.Cortino. They didn’t think anyone would be at the forest at this time so no one would see them. But being on a unicorn was one of the greatest thing a person could do, so Kinga was having the time of her life on it, petting it and feeling its horn. Then Anjelica snapped her out of it. They searched throughout the forest. Anjelica’s unicorn had wings, also known as a Pegasus started flying. Oh boy was Kinga jealous. But she knew she needed to get serious about getting Mr. Cortino. Anjelica’s unicorn, Jerry McLovin, jumped on top of the man.

The unicorn yelled, “RyyRyy”.

Kinga hopped off her unicorn and stole the camera. They knew he was unconscious so they dragged him off somewhere and hoped he wouldn’t remember anything.
Exhausted, when they got back into the magical land, Kinga and Anjelica laid down. The creatures were all very grateful and they let them have there own unicorn. Anjelica kept Jerry McLovin and Kinga took Sasha McFurry. To every good story, there is something upsetting that happens. They weren’t allowed to tell anyone or show anyone about what they saw here. It was like the whole purpose of there trip was ruined. Since the unicorns were magical creatures, they shrunk down into little palm-sized creatures that they would be able to keep.

When the school year started again, Kassie and Monika came up to them and said, “How was your summer looking for those unicorns?”

They answered, “Better than you would think.”

Looking at each other laughing and thinking in her head that they had an experience of a lifetime no one would ever dream about.

Kinga-AMAZING! Great edits on dialogue punctuation. Cute and colorful story.
Alan, unfortunately, this is the very first I've seen of this story, which does NOT adhere to any of the criteria listed above, mentioned in class (Pink Reminder Sheet) nor announced in class since Feb. 22 and on mygradebook???

Get edit done, re-submit for partial points.
Better Luck Tomorrow!

Unforrunately, Rabia nor Shyiem were reading any of the comments or e-letters sent with strict instructions, so points are lost and stories have been deleted since they have NOT followed explicit instructions.

Better Luck Tomorrow-

The World I Live In

I could never have imagined the things that happened to me in June of 1990 and to Samantha, the person I loved the most. I thought that the world for me would change and it did change for I thought life was meaningless, I didn’t care, I wanted to kill myself and be with Samantha. She meant a lot to me and I did not want anything to happen to her for the rest of our lives. Samantha was the girl that always understood me and she would listen to everything I had to say. She was the person that made me feel better in the inside everytime I talked to her.
Then in 1990, Samantha invited John to come to her house. The door was opened and I had no idea why she would leave it like that. When I entered inside the house, I saw blood everywhere and my hand started to shake rapidly. I was so worried that I couldn’t think if Samantha was dead or a live. When I went to her parents’ room, I saw her father lying on the floor. Blood was coming out of his troat and one of his arms was cut. I was even more scared when I went to the kitchen down stairs and her mother was dead as well. This time she had knifes in both of her hands, legs and one at her stomach.
Then, all of a sudden, I heard somebody saying,
“John...John please help me...John please help me.”
I ran outside to the backyard, as fast as he could but my legs wouldn’t support me because I was a scared and a coward. The moon was bright and I could see everything with its bright white light. Just like Samantha, she was pure as the light of the moon. I saw her lying on the ground with bruses all over her body and she started coughing blood out of her mouth. I didn’t know what to do but I wanted to kill that person with all my heart so he would feel the samething that I was feeling.
“John...bef...ore..I die.I…want...to... tell you something” said Samantha.
All of a sudden, her heart stopped and I couldn’t do anything to save her.
However, the person was caught and was sent to jail three years after the incident.
“John eat your breakfeast and don’t be late to school again;” mom affirmed
“Ok, mom,” John replied,
“John move I am trying to watch the news,” said dad
“Fine, dad” John answered.
“Huh my life is always a mess and nobody pays attention to me,” John repeated,
“You said something dear?” mom replied
“No mom it’s nothing.” John replied in an angry way
I grabbed my book bag and went outside. I start walking and then I saw this guy with a black coat and black glasses and thought about things I had done in the past and I said
“What kind of world do I live in?”
I didn’tt know where I was going when I crossed the street and a truck suddenly hit him. This is the end of me and I was now able to go in peace where I wouldn’t be bothered.
“Samantha are you their?”
“Don’t worry am here let’s go John its late remember tomorrow at my house at eight pm don’t be late!”
“Don’t worry I’ll be there, I promise.”

the one they called steriods
by Dimitri fortunato


There was a kid named Speneetry, who lived in
fanhattan. Speneetry went to a school called
fanhattan hummer science high. Speneetry was a
physically active kid outside and inside of school so
he was a very buff kid but he wasn’t the average buff
freshman. Speneetry was buffer than some of the
seniors at school and this made some of the students
jealous of Speneetry so some of the kids came up with
silly names such as speneetroids, steroids and roids
. Speneetry was becoming aggravated with the kids but
he was mostly angry at one kid named Dilson who would
at like his friend and then go right in his face and
say, “Steroids how ya doin steroids, Still shootin
roids into ya self haha ?” but one day Speneetry
decided to get back at him by talking Dilson down
himself. So Speneetry walked up to Dilson and
said,”Waz up son u wanna wrestle me or are u to much
of a punk?” knowing that he could defeat Dilson in
wrestling. Dilson knew he only defeated Speneetry once
out of the two times they wrestled and didn’t want to
have a tie breaker so he said, ”Nah dats an unfair
match.” Speneetry said,” Unfair, unfair, how is that
unfair?” Dilson said,” Bcause ya know, your using
steroids.” Speneetry’s face lit up he was getting
upset. He started to call Dilson a lot of names that
I can’t repeat and eventually Speneetry ended up
popping Dilson in the face so hard he surprised
himself when Dilson just fell over from the hit.
Speneetry never herd from Dilson or anyone else again.
I bet your probably thinking why was this told well
two people learned a couple of things from this
experience. Speneetry learned that he needed to
control his anger and Dilson learned well that he
needed to stop trying to bully people especially if
they look stronger than him.

No one ever told me that zombies were allowed to run. In all the movies zombies were gray with a blank stare and they just barley walked. Unfortunately for me none of that is true. The zombies that I am shooting at look closer to humans than the zombies in the movies. They have regular colored skin and except that the skin is rotting so most of its coming apart. They can also run so it’s quite hard getting away from them. Yet another misunderstanding about zombies is that they have perfect vision unlike the zombies in the movies in fact thanks to Dr. Hans they have better vision than any human being, they can even see infrared. Now it’s only me and a few of my friends that remain untouched by these new hitech zombies, and I can’t help to wonder how I got into this mess.
Well I guess it all started about 2 days ago when a few of my friends and I were coming back from school. We walked past our old science teacher’s house, when we heard a shriek. We couldn’t resist finding out to see what it was since everyone in town either didn’t like Dr. Hans or just didn’t trust him we couldn’t wait to see what it was so we can finally have a good reason to get rid of him. We crept around in back of his house and peered through his basement window and saw a woman tied up in a corner of his basement. Then from the other side of the room we saw a man approaching the women and lifting her up by her head and tearing it clean off the torso. The man ripped the head right in two so effortlessly you would have thought it was a wax replica of a human head. The man started feeding on the head and then out of the blue we heard Dr. Hans’ voice and he said.
“Yes eat my minion for you are the first of many that will help me rule this pathetic world”
We couldn’t believe what we just saw and heard this was like a scene in a bad horror movie. We always knew he was up to something but never would we have guessed it was this, we always thought it would be something like a drug lab not a zombie recruit center. On the way home we were all in shock except for Eric who kept saying I told you he was evil. That night I couldn’t fall asleep I don’t think any of us did.
The next morning we knew that we couldn’t tell anyone from watching horror movies all my life I knew that anyone who tries to stop him will get turned into a zombie as well. So right after school my friends and I grabbed our parent’s rifles and headed to Dr. Hans’ house. But by the time we got there we realized it was too late. Zombies were pouring out of Dr. Hans’ house and had already begun turning other people into zombies. Who would have thought the doctor had that much room in his house.
We started to shoot but there was too many, and they came quick they were some of the fastest people I have ever seen. So we headed to the council hall it was the tallest building in town. We got to the top and that’s where we started shooting them. It’s a safe place for now but who knows how long until the zombies get up here, how long till we need to come down for food and water, and who knows how many zombies there are out there now and for how long they’ll keep spreading.
“ Please somebody send help.”
“What are you doing up he...”
TRANSMISSION INTERUPTED

The Santa Claus is Coming To Town
By Daniel Wojtowicz

The United States of America during the Cold War was the world of corruption and crime. Around every corner there seemed to be danger waiting to sneak behind you and bring a short end to your misery. Everything was full of mystery. Solving it would lead you to the deep dark end of being silenced forever by the government. This government controlled the society in order to be capable of doing basically whatever it desired and to gain profit. The politicians, businessmen, and the entire upper class were completely blind at what damage was done to the mankind. That became the reason for me to start work as a CIA agent. They codenamed me the Black Jack.

I was then a young foolish man with a great heart and dreams of changing this world. I wanted to take away the dark clouds and bring the new day with the blue sky filled with sunshine and happiness. However, through the years I have worked in the agency I have learned that the corruption is too deep and too widely spread for me to manage to change it. I was fully aware of the risk it required to take the possibility of leaving this world before my time had come.

Nevertheless, the presence was much darker than I had ever expected. I found myself tighten in the secret room hidden in the Pentagon building. I was set up by the corrupted group of Congressmen, who had made a deal on a side with the Soviet Union to allow their missiles to destroy the Pentagon. The profits, which they could gain from defeating the Soviet Union and taking of their resources caused them to grow in their greed and rage the war. When the Soviets and Congress reached their goal corrupted politicians have began to look for someone on whom they could lay the weight of the past as well as the blame for failure to prevent them. This black sheep ended up being me, because of my long fight against this very corruption. In this Pentagon room I was awaiting my trial, but I already knew the final verdict of the judge. The death sentence was unavoidable.

The only chance I had left was to run. However, before I would execute that plan I had to escape from one of the most secured buildings in the world. I could hear the guards outside talking about the yesterday’s football game. The Congressmen were ignorant enough to believe that when I was fastened to a chair two guards would be enough. They didn’t take any precautions. As a CIA agent, I have received special training adjusted to every kind of oppression I could find myself in. So it wasn’t hard for me to escape from this room and to defeat the guards outside. Later I simply took the clothes off a security guard, which were stashed in the room inside the basement and I put on dark-shades in order to leave the building unnoticed.

I called a friend from a payphone a few blocks away. I had to learn about the plans, which the U.S. Government had to solve the issue against the attack on the Pentagon. After a few rings, I could hear the old, very familiar voice. I have asked him for the code first and then said, “I am quite sure you have already heard the news about me being convicted of the attack on White House.”

Jimmy responded, “Yes, I did. I’ve already heard that you were framed from my sources and I have also learned the exact time and place of the meeting during which we would negotiate the response to Soviet attacks.”

“So, when it will occur?” I asked

“They chose a secure location rather than a secret one. It will occur at the underground base in the Nevada Desert at 9 A.M. the day after tomorrow.”

“It sounds exactly as the involvement of the
corrupted politicians. They try to protect themselves against any opposition. However, they missed the fact stating that by this plan our country can be smashed from the face of the Earth.”

“Well, that is all we have left,” he responded.

“I will meet you there. Get me a pass and my usual arms.”

After I had hung up, new thoughts came to my mind. I began looking at life around me. The cars moving slowly in morning traffic and sounding the horns at each other as raging dragons of modern civilization. People on the streets were passing each other rushing to their destinations so quickly as if they were chased by the devil himself. It was the business part of the city so most of them were in suits or elegant dresses. It was quite interesting, the Idea stating that when you are gone this life, which you see around you, will continue unchanged. The world won’t even notice that you are gone. But there is something worth fighting for. The people living together peacefully with the love in their lives and wealth. The peace of mind, which is necessary for them to have happiness. The lack of worries about the family being under gunfire on the front or receiving a letter saying that your son have died being a hero. Stopping the war will keep so many families from going suddenly from happiness into the deep darkness of sorrow. The war would bring a true harvest of sorrow to our nation.

Before the time of my plane’s departure came, I made a appointment with another loyal friend of mine who has connections in Congress in order to gain as much information as possible. Billy have asked me to come at 7 P.M. to the South Beach. As I have entered walking through the golden sand I saw the silver moon shining faintly on the night sky. The peaceful waves of the sea made music, which softly spread in the air. A tall man in the elegant clothes holding a leather suitcase.

As I have approached he said to me, “The silver moon, the most loyal companion of a mankind. He hides all the secrets of the world and will stay silent forever. He won’t ever betray you. He will never speak”

“Yes, indeed. However, we both know the reason for my visit. I don’t have much time. My plane leaves the airport in about an hour.”

“I understand. Here, in this folder you will find all the information you need. Code name said as he handled to me a thick black folder with an Presidential Seal on the front. “Generally speaking it contains the plans and list of names of the traitors and double agents in the government. Study it carefully, because the whole plan spreads around theirs defense of going to war. They just need to tell the story right.”

“Thank you amigo,” I shook his hand. “And be careful.”

“I will.”

I have left him there looking at the moon and headed straight for airport in my BMW.

The day before the meeting I checked into the Nevada Motel. It was a plain road motel with rooms for guests, a bar, and a diner. I have spent the night there and in the early morning made my way for the Military base. I put my disguise on before leaving the car. It was the wax mask representing one of the Congressmen, whom I have captured the night before in order to be able to replace on the meeting, With the pass, I did not have problems to get inside. As I entered all the politicians were already there, ready for the negotiations.

As the talks went on, I was wondering about the details of my proposal. Suddenly, we were interrupted by the phone call. It was transferred from the Office. The President picked up the phone and the deep voice started talking,

“At this moment, I have launched missiles, which are heading towards Moscow, New York, and London. It is already too late for you to save them. You only have enough time to rescue some of these cities’ population.”

The President was stunned with the news and asked, “Who are you?”

The caller replied, “They call me Santa Claus.”

The politicians stood there speechless for a few moments. Then the rescue action started to take place. It seemed as the world stopped for a second and then came back to life with double force. Everybody everywhere was busy trying to save as much as possible.

On my way out of the underground base with a clean record, I passed a man who stopped me and said, “They call me Santa Claus, because I bring the Christmas gift of peace to the world.” I just realized that the following day was the Christmas Eve. In the weeks to follow every war in the world stopped. Everyone got united, calling for peace. Even our country made peace with the Soviet Union. One day as have turned on the news a reporter said, “It is a true miracle seeing the President of U.S. shaking hands together with the President of Russia after the successful peace talks. The America may now sleep well at night, because the war threats are finally over.” It seemed as if it was the worldwide hippie movement. The war was over and it was the new day for America and for the entire world. This new change was not easy and it took long and hard work to bring it to life. I still recall those days during which we brought a brand new day and times for America.

Jamie’s Dilemma
Jamie was born on September 17th 1990. The doctors said that it took him 5 minutes after birth to even make a sound. People were worried about him, but then the little fighter made a sound and this was the start of his life. The first couple months of Jamie’s life was built around negative energy, as his Mother and Father always fought physically and verbally. Jamie wouldn’t go a day without hearing a curse or something being thrown around. One time his father had threw a Tequila bottle at his mother the bottle missed, cutting Jamie from his top to his bottom lip vertically. Things got worse as Jamie got older.
Jamie had finally turned six and it was his first day of Kindergarten his mother had dressed him up as if he was going on a business trips, this would be one of the few times his mother would be nice to him. When his mother had left the room Jamie admired his cut.

“Oh my god, it looks bad” Jamie said “I wish there was some way to make it go away”

His mother who was eavesdropping came in and with rage slapped Jamie in the face, leaving a big red hand print on the right side of the face as if some had touched him with red paint.

“Don’t make me feel bad like that ever again, as if I’m who caused it. ” his mother said.

She dragged him by the collar and threw him onto the school bus, when Jamie had arrived to school It was all new to him he didn’t know anything considering it was his first day of kindergarten, but what he did want to know is why everyone was looking at him like he was weird, despite he had a fresh scar on his lip and a big red hand print on his face. People could smell the fear on his clothes and people pretty much stayed away from him. Although that day Jamie had met a boy named Nathan. He was the first person to talk to Jamie.

“Hey what’s up with your scar, how did that happen to you” Nathan asked

“I rather not talk about it” Jamie Replied

“Oh okay then, well let me stop talking before I get in trouble” Nathan said”

That concluded the first day of kindergarten for Jamie. he had met someone new and thought his life was getting on track.

Ten years went by and nothing got better for Jamie, he had just started High School , he attended J.W High School in California. Him and his Kindergarten friend Nathan grew closer and shared their moments of despair, Nathans parents had died last year and ever since then Jamie had agreed to take him in and under his mother and fathers care. Nathan saw how Jamie’s parents treated him and thought something should be done. One day Nathan had pulled Jamie aside at school to talk to him for a minute.

“Jamie I see whats going on at your house and I don’t like it one bit” Nathan said

“Why is it any of your business?” Jamie replied.

“Because I’m your friend and I’m here to help” Nathan said

“Whatever, I’ll be okay” Jamie said walking away.

Later that night he got a call from an unknown number, he was hesitant to pick it up remember the scar his mom had given him for picking up the phone for random people. She had hit him over the head with the phone cracking his skull the stitches left a scar on his head. Not caring today he picked it up and it was a Marshall from the police department called and told him to come to 2240 Kingston Ave.When he had got there the Marshall greeted him.

“I have to tell you something” the Marshall said

“What is it?” Jamie asked

“The Parents you have been living with are not your real birth parents we have your real parents here but, you’re going to have to come with me to see them.” The Marshall answered

“Seriously, I want to see them” Jamie said

The Marshall took Jamie to see his parents but to his surprise his parents were behind the bars. This brought Jamie to tears, when he asked the Marshall what were his parents convicted for he said for murder and they were served the death penalty. Jamie knew that he had to set them free one way or another. Later that night to his “parents” surprise he would not return home, he ran away to California for law school, he dedicated his school work to get his parents out of jail before it was too late.

There was a boy named chris and he was from Cleveland, Ohio. Now, Chris was not your average 14 year old boy. He was born with a very special gift. Chris could break dance like no other child his age could. Everyday after school finished Chris and the rest of his dancing friends stayed in the auditorium to practice their dance movies. Not only could he dance but he had a bunch of friends and the ladies loved him. One day while going home he ran into an elderly lady on the street that needed someones help. She said "young man would you be so kind as to help me with my grocery bags?" Chris thought about it for a while and replied, "sorry I have something to do." In his mind he knew he did not have anything to do right away he could have helped the woman if he wanted to. Instead he lied because he was being lazy and selfish. Later on that night Chris ate dinner and did the little homework he had. When he lied down on his bed mysteriously light flashed into his eyes. When he opened his eyes again he was actually at school. Chris was confused but everybody was acting likeit was a regular day so he just went through the whole day like he usually woud. After school was over he did the usual and went to the auditorium to dance with his friends. This time something was weird when he tried to dance he sucked at it. Chris began to panic thinking his dancing days were over. After he calmed down he drank some fresh water and tried dancing again but got the same result. His best friend Dan and TOny just looked at Chris as if he was crazy. On top of that the crowd of girls, that usually came out to watch him were not there today. Nothing like this had ever happened to Chris before, he thought maybe he did something that could have caused him to have bad luck. The problem was he could not figure out what it was. After embararassing himself in front of everyone he decided to leave, alone. Chris's stomach was grumbling, "grrrrr". He was starving so on his way home he stopped at the chinese restaraunt. After Chris got his order the first thing he did was read the fortune cookie. Once he saw what the cookie said he dropped his food and ran as quickly as he could. The fortune cookie read, "respect is the answer." This is when Chris realized that all of this happened because he disrespected the elderly lady by lying to her. Miraculously he ran into the woman and she bad bags again, except this time he offered a helping hand. Just then he awoke from the strange dream. The first thing he tried when he got up was the moon walk and he nailed it. Although he was happy, he learned a valuable lesson. [close:]

^^^^ No repect! by Mor-Talla Ndiaye

The Day I Never Had
By Sally Li P7

“Let’s go kids, the bell rang. Come in the room,” as my advisor, Ms. Gomez, told my class when the bell rang at 11:56 a.m. for the start of 6th period. “Come on Miss Bleu.” My name is Aqua Bleu and advisory is one of the best classes because we sometimes get time to ourselves so I was really willing to move my feet a little faster to get into this class. We all took our seats and waited for Ms. Gomez to give some announcements about the week like she always did and tell us about what we were going to do that day.

“Well class, today I’m going to try this new exercise with you guys,” she told us about our daily agenda.

“What are we going to do?” someone shouted out.

“Well if you had let me finish you wouldn’t have had to ask that question,” Ms. Gomez said. “Today I’m going to try to do this relaxation exercise with you kids where you would put down your heads and I’ll turn off the lights. Then I’m going to say a series of things where I want you to imagine them in your heads. Understand?”

“Yes!” the class shouted out including me because this was one of those days in advisory where we had a relaxing day of silence and peace. I couldn’t wait to put my head down, zone out and relax. Ms. Gomez turned off the lights and told us to put our heads down on the desk. Everyone was following her instructions and did what she said. Some giggling happened near the back of the room but it stopped in a matter of seconds. Having the lights out made me very sleepy and relaxed which was probably a good reaction since this was a relaxation thing but maybe being sleepy wasn’t such a good thing because this was school.

“Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Most of us sometimes don’t realize that we breathe sometimes so just focus on breathing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Start to forget your plans for today and things you have to do. Let loose of your whole body from top to bottom. Clear out your head and relax the tension that is in your arms. Relax your shoulders…,” Ms. Gomez was telling us these series of things she said she was going to say. All this talking from her was in a very soothing and soft voice which was very comfortable for the ears to listen to like the waves of the ocean on a warm sunny day. As Ms. Gomez was saying these instructions, I was trying to do as much as she was telling us to do as possible. Sooner or later I got really relaxed from this and I was just listening to what she was saying now and making images in my head like she said. This probably made me even more relaxed because all the things she said were nice things like candy for the mind. She kept on going, “Think of a happy place. A nice, calm place that you would want to be right now. Focus on that place….”

“BEEEEEEEEEEP!” went by the bell. It was time to go to the next class. “Okay class we’ll try this next class,” Ms. Gomez told us as we got ready to leave the class. That class went by very fast and it didn’t even feel like a full period. I was very relaxed from the relaxation exercise, maybe even too relaxed which was causing me to not want to go to the next class but I had to go, I mean this was school. My next class was algebra which I don’t really like because I’m personally not good with numbers.

As I walked into the room it seemed as if I was late since everyone was already in their seats. I looked at the clock and it read 12:47 p.m. which meant it was after the late bell but I remembered that the bell didn’t ring. Ms. Greene, my algebra teacher, said, “You’re late. Let’s go. Get in your seat.” I was confused how I was late already but I got to my seat which was hard to get to because my seat was a midst in the center of the room. I was surprised that I was late when in the halls I wasn’t even wandering around even though I didn’t want to go to algebra. There was a Do Now on the board so I stopped thinking about how I was late and started on the Do Now as soon as possible just in case Ms. Greene was going to call on me. “Okay class, books away. Only a pencil and an eraser,” said Ms. Greene. Do we have a test today? I questioned myself. Then to make sure I asked the person next to me. “Hey, Mary. We have a test today?” I whispered over.

“Yes Aqua. She told us that like a week ago!” Mary replied. This was a total shock for me. How was this even possible that I didn’t know that we had a test today? I could not believe that I was going to do this test without any preparation. Ms. Greene started to pass out the tests and my palms started to sweat because this was a test and not a quiz. A quiz would be lighter on my grade if I failed it which would not be much of an affect on my normal A student record.

After a while all the tests were passed out and I was already trying to work on it. I didn’t know half the answers to the questions and the other half I just didn’t even have a concept how to even start, which was even more ridiculous. Since I didn’t know how to do these at all I thought I’d rather guess since this was a multiple choice test. I was halfway through the test and I looked around the room to see who was done. As I was looking around Ms. Greene yelled, “Aqua! What are you doing? Cheating?”

“No. I was just---” I tried to explain but she cut me off.

“Was just cheating right?” Ms. Greene continued to yell. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me because I had never been accused of cheating before. She came over and took my test and ripped it in half. “I have to make a phone call home to your mom now to talk about this,” she warned. “First late to class then cheating on a test?”

After class I was packing my things to leave when I found out that my phone was missing from my bag. I took everything out of my bag and I couldn’t find it anywhere. This day was starting to get on my nerves but still I was so lucky that this day was about to end. I rushed out of the room before Ms. Greene could say anything more to me. I walked out and the assistant principal walked towards me and I start to get nervous because it seemed as if I was in trouble. “Why is your phone clipped onto your belt and out in school?” Mr. Jones asked me.

“My phone? No I lost---” I said realizing that it was in the case hanging onto my belt. “Oh sorry, I hadn’t realized it was there. I thought I had lost it.”

“Yeah sure. Come with me to the principal’s office,” Mr. Jones told me.

He brought me into the main office where I was so scared that I was sweating like crazy even though there was an air conditioner. Mr. Jones made a hand motion to tell me to go into the principal’s office. As I was walking over my legs got shaky. The nervousness got to my head and I was thinking about all the different consequences that were probably going to happen to me. I got inside and I sat down on one of the chairs.

“So, Aqua Bleu. Late to class, cheating on the test, and phone out in school?” Ms. Reed, the principal said. I was scared to talk so I just kept quiet and let her talk. “These are never like anything you do and you choose to do them now?” As she was talking I was half zoned out. How could this be happening to me at all? I thought. First I was late to class without even knowing, then being accused of cheating on a test I didn’t even know I had. And finally, now that I had my phone out without knowing I had it out and even knowing I hadn’t lost it. This day was going down so badly and probably one of the worst days that could ever exist. “Are you listening Miss Bleu?”

“Yes, Ms. Reed.”

“How come you turn out to be like this? This is not like -----”

“BBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!”

Suddenly everything seemed darker and my view seemed to be looking at the desk and with my head on my arms resting. My head seemed a little down and tired like I just woke up. I shook my head and sat up. I saw that I was still in my advisory room with my advisory class. This was becoming too confusing to me because I thought I was in the principal’s office in trouble. “Okay advisory. Have a nice day. Half the class fell asleep during the relaxation exercise including you, Aqua,” Ms. Gomez pointed me out jokingly. “But that’s okay it means you guys were tired and was getting relaxed.” So that was all a dream? I thought to myself. I am so grateful that that was a dream because I was getting into so much trouble for no reason! That was like a day I never had and I wish I would NEVER have.

Sally, it looks as though you've actually listened AND READ edits concerning how to PUNCTUTUATE dialogue. Well, done. Full credit as your P7 class had that extension.
Great stories all, especially those of you who followed instructions.

“Love Always Finds Its Way Back”

It all started about 35 years ago, when my mom was about 18 years old living with her parents in Lima, Peru. She was secretly going out with a guy from school named Luis. Back then, parents were very strict about their children dating at a young age.
After growing tired of maintaining a secret relationship, Luis told my mom that he wanted to present himself to her mother, my grandmother. Knowing my grandmother’s strong character, my mom decided to first confront her about the secret relationship that she and Luis were hiding from her. After finding out about this, my grandmother screamed at my mom in disapproval. She banged on the table and on the wall. “Are you crazy?! After your diploma is on this wall you can do whatever you want!”
That same day, my grandmother called his mom to ask her if she knew about their hidden relationship. Of course, she didn’t. Luis’ mother told his father, a member of the Peruvian Air Force, that his son was having a relationship with my mom. Luis’ father, also named Luis, sent him to Cordoba, Argentina to continue with his studies. They got separated, but never officially broke up.
Six years ago, my mom was watching the six o’clock news, when she saw that there had been a flood in Cordoba. As the news channel showed a clip of people on top of their houses, my mom saw a man with two little boys, and she thought the man was him. By that time, we were young, so she figured he would have probably been having kids with ages similar. The clip went by so fast, she wasn’t completely sure. Later that night, she watched the 11pm newscast, and again, she was pretty sure it was him. At first, she thought of what she could to help. The first thing she thought of was donating money to the Red Cross. She decided not to because she didn’t know what would be done with the money, and wanted to help him specifically. Finally, she looked up all the people that had his name in Argentina. There were three. She wrote three identical letters, saying that “My name is Elvira Rodriguez; I’m looking for a man named Luis Antonio Melgar Berrios, who was raised in Miraflores, Peru. If you are him, please respond."
After a month, my mom received a letter form Luis. He had not been affected by the flood, because his house was on a higher part of land. He had had five kids, and was divorced. At the time, my mom had been divorced from my dad for about eight years, and was raising my sister Karen, my brother Bryan, and I by herself. They began to form a relationship, sending letters to each other, and talking on the phone various times a day. They decided that he was going to come here to the United States, to live with us. I had a great relationship with him as well. For six years, Luis and my mom talked, and worked on getting him a Visa.
Last summer, my mom was watching a popular Spanish variety show, called Sabado Gigante, and the host said “Visit our website and share your love story.” My mom wrote all about him, and three months later, a correspondent from that show contacted us, and said that she had read my mom’s story, and would like to have her and Luis appear on the show, and reunite in front of the cameras.
When my brother, my mom and I were on the show, we were both nervous and excited to see him. As soon as the cameras started taping and he came out, I started to cry with joy. After talking to him for so long, and building such a beautiful relationship with him, it was like a dream to see him in person. In those six years, he had become the father figure I’d never had.
Now, months later, he is living with us. He is the best change I’ve ever had. He helps my mom with everything and always has our back. I thank God for sending him to us because he has been an angel. He loves me so much, and I love him as well. I know that he will always be there for me whenever I need him, and I am thankful for that every day.