Rutland Herald 15-16

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1/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

THANKSFROMYWPABOUTTHEPROJECT

Young Writers Project is an inde-pendent nonprot that engages stu-dents to write, helps them improveand connects them with authenticaudiences in newspapers, before liveaudiences and on web sites,young-writersproject.org, vpr.net, vtdigger.org, and cowbird.com. YWP also

publishes The Voice,a monthly digi-tal magazine with YWPs best writ-ing, images and features. To learnmore, go toyoungwritersproject.orgor contact YWP at (802) 324-9537.

THISWEEK: General &Tweet

YWPis supported by this news-paper and foundations, businessesand individuals who recognize the

power and value of writing. If youwould like to contribute, please goto youngwritersproject.org/support,or mail your donation to YWP, 47Maple Street, Suite 106, Burlington,

VT 05401.

Special thanks this week to

BURLINGTONTELECOM

Each week, Young Writers Project receives submis-

sions from students across Vermont, New Hampshire

and beyond. A team of staff, mentors and students

selects work for publication. This week, we present

responses to the challenges forGeneral writing in

any genre & Tweet:Write a story in tweets. Read

more at youngwritersproject.org.

Go to youngwritersproject.org

for your FREE subscription

to YWPs digital literary magazine!

Forgotten

Dainty in the tall weeds,lie these memoriesof Mothers Day bouquets,of little girls play.

Lots and lotsof forget-me-nots, forget-me-nots

dangle in brunette ringlets.Reminiscein nostalgic bliss; you will missyesterdays forget-me-nots.

Ill pick them all forforget-me-nots are lost,their petals a lonely bluemixed with tears,drops of morning dew.

Gone, gone are the daisieswhose wishes blew away.Lovely are the morning glorieswho steal the suns morning rays.

Forget-me-notsmeek yellow centersseek a trustworthy shelter.

Tossed into a shadowed rose,left with only shattered hope

lies a forget-me-not,alone.

- SANDRAGUYETTE, SHREWSBURY

TumblingIt is hard believingThat a river is fallingIn the most peaceful of ways.

Droplets of waterTripping over each otherFalling miles, but in a matter of days.

- MAXWONSAVAGE, KILLINGTON

Push to the limit

Training.Putting everything I haveinto something I want.Going hard so things will be easy.Repeating things over and overto get stronger and stronger.Having the people that you want and needto help you the whole way, no matter theoutcome.The wind hitting my face from going fast.The rush I get from almost crashing,and just barely holding on.Scared of what could happen.Standing and looking down the course.Waiting nervously for a go.Remembering what to do,and what not to do.Out of the start.Pushing as hard as I canso that it will be a good and fast run.Almost there.Almost to the fnish and tired.

Giving it my all, pushing it to the limit.

- AIDANBENNETT, BENSON

Kevin Huang, Burlington

Tweets: LonelyHer weather changed. The sun became

clouded, her whole world became black.She lost the one she loved. The one shecherished the most. #deep

- STEFANIEALLEN, RUTLAND

The famHangin with the fam #Dab

- CHANCEPASSMORE, PROCTOR

Spring Oh my gosh, I cant believe it! Springis here! Bye-bye winter clothing. Hellocute rainboots!

-KATELYNSCHUTT, WESTRUTLAND

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PHOTOOFTHEWEEK




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Anthology 8 cover photo by Bryan Storck, Essex Junction, VT

READTHELATESTISSUE

OFYWPSDIGITALMAGAZINE

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power and value of writing. If youwould like to contribute, please gotoyoungwritersproject.org/support,or mail your donation to YWP, 47

Maple Street, Suite 106, Burlington,VT 05401.


THEBAYANDPAUL

FOUNDATIONS

Trump

Trump has really funny hairand his skin is like a tangerine.

He hides behind a lot of lies,a money-made smokescreen.

The things he says are racist,sexist and obscure;the only way hed be all rightis if ignorance had a cure.

If he becomes the man in charge,I will surely leave.The loss of a once great country

we will have to grieve.

- HEATHERMCMANUS, RUTLAND

CrabI think its kind of rude to swap my oc-

cupied sign to lonely without my permis-sion ... I wrote about you like you were apresent but now my pen knows you as amemory.

If mud sliding and sports-bra wearingwere metaphors for anything, it would be

home. And if home was a metaphor foranything, it would probably feel like thefarthest island away from your ego.

I want to stay up all night with slampoets and Emily Dickinson writingpoetry; I want to watch the stars constel-lations and the sun rise so it can get a niceview of the world; I want to sing lullabiesto what we never put down so it soundsasleep.

I no longer listen to songs and pretendyoure singing them to me.

Youre hundreds of morning runsaway, and now Im ready to make itthousands.

When you told me safety is a socialconstruct, I pictured you with your armsout anyway. Now I just think of youwalking away.

You made everything a constructionproject that was built way too quicklywith no base; lackadaisical causes col-lapse.

BC you were a person; AD you werea letter; now youre ... beginning to seemlike something to write about. I feel likeyou only left for a poem in your name soyou could feel like you left something.

You made me the Brown-Eyed Girl, 17going on 12, when you ran out. I picturedyou with your arms out and fell into myown. I wrote to you as if you were my di-ary. We all know diaries dont write back.

The tally of hours in my running logcould be used to fnd you again, but I amdone searching. I felt like we were livingout metaphors until they didnt make

sense and you smacked me in the headwith logic. If I thought love was a wash-ing machine cycle, then you pulled meout and let me air-dry in the desert.

I dont know much about zodiac signs,but I know were both cancer-ous. Ithought one of us could be the crab shelland the other its guts, but being crabbydoesnt work when we cant even walkforward and my shell is too soft for youanyway.

(continued>>)

Tumbling

It is hard believingthat a river is fallingin the most peaceful of ways,droplets of water

tripping over each other,falling miles, but in a matter of days.

- MAXWONSAVAGE, KILLINGTON

THISWEEK: Anthology 8

Each year, Young Writers Project publishes an anthol-

ogy of the best writing and photography submitted to

youngwritersproject.org. A team of staff, mentors and

students makes selections from thousands of submis-

sions. This week, we present some of the local writers

who are featured in the anthology. For copies of the

anthology, go toyoungwritersproject.org/anthology8.

THETALLYOFHOURSINMY

RUNNINGLOGCOULDBEUSED

TOFINDYOUAGAIN,

BUTIAMDONESEARCHING.

I used to look at the mountains. Theyreminded me of your chest spread out,comfortable, yet smug.

I saw your muscular hands reachingover the clouds, one fnger at a time; thestars were my hair.

Now I look at the mountains and seethe world around me. You are not as bigas I thought you were.

I wanted you to ask about my idiosyn-crasies and point out my aws like they

were daydreams.I wanted you to see me shivering, wrap

your sky around me and ask about mypoetry.

But I wanted a dream. And you arenot a dream. You are a cloudy sky that Ihavent seen in awhile.

- ALIYASCHNEIDER, RUTLAND


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THISWEEK: Wishes






and beyond. A team of staff, mentors and students se-

lects the best writing and images for publication. This

week, we present responses to Wishes: You come upon

a wishing well. What magic happens at the bottom of a

wishing well?More at youngwritersproject.org.



Maple St., Suite 106, Burlington,VT 05401.


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REMINDER!

ITSFRIDAY, MAY13

7 - 9 PM

MAINSTREETLANDING

BURLINGTON

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ANTHOLOGY8

The fountainBYSAVANNAHPERRY, RUTLAND

My grandmother hands me a penny; Imake a wish under my breath and toss thelittle treasure in the beautiful, old foun-tain in the middle of the park. I grab mygrandmothers hand and we walk alongthe old, beaten-down path.

Behind us, I hear a little splash ofwater but when I look around to see whohas thrown a coin into the fountain, thereis no one there. The fountain is just as weleft it. I turn around and forget about it.

Remembering what I have wished, Ismile and start to hum. My grandmotherand I dont know what or who will con-trol, or possibly grant, the very powerfulwish I have just made.

******Here you go. Now dont throw it in

until Mommy and your sister get theirs.Can you believe that when Mommy was alittle girl she came here with her grand-mother, made a wish and threw a pennyin this exact fountain?

Make a wish. Ready? One. Two.Three. Throw it.

I clap for them, remembering the daythat I had spent with my grandmother,trying to remember the wish that I hadmade. I look down, watching the coins

drop to the bottom of the fountain, andsomething catches my eye. It is sparkling,but I cant quite tell what it is. It is a note.The shiny note has my name on it and theyear that I was 7 years old, which is howold I was when I threw my last pennyin this fountain with my grandmother.Below my name it says came true! Butthe note also has the deep and permanentwords across it MISTAKE.

I try to reach down and touch it. I am

very curious to know what the note meansand who wrote it. I stretch out my handas far as it will go but I cannot reach it.My entire arm is soaking wet, but I wantto know more about it. I lean over andstretch my hand out again when a hugegust of wind comes out of nowhere and Ifall over into the fountain!

I go from sitting on the side of thefountain with my kids and husband, toscreaming and trying to grab the sides ofthe fountain. My hands keep on slipping,and I lose control and fall down for whatseems like forever. As I am falling, I openmy eyes and realize that on one side ofthe tunnel there are pictures of me. Theyare very bright, and they all show peoplewho are smiling. On the other side thereare pictures of people yelling and crying.I have to squint to realize that they are allof other people and me. There are picturesthat are lightened up, bright and verycomforting against the black stones.

There are images of me with my family,at the beach, on special holidays, straw-berry picking, and the last picture that is

shining the brightest is of my grandmoth-er and me standing next to the fountain,holding hands, smiling. I begin to feel atear coming to my eye. The pictures thatare dark are all very distant, and some ofthem I cant even remember.

The tunnel stops abruptly, and I rubmy arm, forgetting what it is like to havethat much pain. I look around to see thatthere are different paths all leading awayfrom each other; I look up and see the

water falling from the fountain. Occasion-ally, a coin goes through the red tunnel,the green tunnel or the yellow tunnel. Idont understand why this is, and I dontwant to be here. I want to get back tomy family, and I really would like it ifsomeone could tell me what is going on!Every time a coin drops into a tunnel, thename above the tunnel lights up, and I seethat the word above the red tunnel saysNO. The word above the yellow tunnelis SOON, and the green tunnel reads,YES.

I will talk to her, I hear a little voicesay. A small person walks out of anothertunnel and says, Hello, Amy. I hear therewas a little accident with the fountain.Are you all right? I know that you are notused to a lot of pain and cant rememberit since when you were small.

The person says it so casually, as ifwe have known each other forever, andfocuses his attention on some papers on

a desk

I am completely shocked; how doesthis person know my name? I dont everremember seeing him in my life!

So I hesitantly respond, I am fne;thank you. Excuse me, but how do youknow my name?

The little man whips his head aroundand gives me a look as if I am the dumb-est person alive!

I am the Maker. All the coins thatpeople wish on come down here, and myteam and I have to fgure out whether thewish is logical and if its for the good ofeveryone, if we will grant it, whether itcan wait a little while, or if it is a self-ish wish and will not be good in the longrun. That is what the tunnels are for.There have been a lot of wishes that havegone in the NO tunnel that will not begranted.

He says it as if I should have knownthat already.

He goes back to sorting his papers,and I have a million questions buzz-ing through my head, Why am I here?Did my wish come true? Why was it a

mistake? As I am asking myself thesequestions, I start to think, What was thewish I had made? I couldnt rememberwhat it was. Why?

The Maker turns around again andsays, You made a very hard wish, a verycomplicated wish that made my entireteam question and get into fghts, debat-ing if we should grant it or not. He turnsto me and continues, The wish youasked for was to take away all of your

pain

We had gotten this wish before, butthe children usually just meant it as awish for their scraped knees, or for theparents for not having the pains of work-ing so hard all the time. You had beenthrough a great deal of many differentkinds of pains, Amy. Types of pain thatchildren your age should never have to

go through. You meant this wish very sin-cerely, so we granted it. But we shouldnthave, because now you feel no pain.Which is why landing on this groundhurt so much; down here wishes are onlygranted, not received, so down here youwill feel all pain as you did before.

But why was it a mistake? I ask him.Because at some point in everyones

life you feel pain. It is a part of life; it ishow we all grow. And by taking that awayfrom you, we took away your freedom

to learn and grow. You now have theoption of going back up and carrying onas it was with no pain, or we can takeyou back to the day when you made thewish.

His face softens a little. Its yourchoice.

I think for a long time, processingeverything that he has just said. Howdifferent my life would have been if I hadknown. So I respond, Both.

Good morning, my son, daughterand husband say to me, waking me up.

With the blinding pain of sun in myeyes, with the pain of waking up with asore neck, with the pain of being hungry,and the pain of knowing that I have pain,I smile and say, It is a very good morn-ing!


4/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

THISWEEK: General writing






and beyond. A team of staff, mentors and students se-


week, we present responses to the prompts, General

writing & Blue: Use the phrase, it was the most bril-

liant shade of blue.More at youngwritersproject.org.





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Caleb Dudley, Essex Junction

Wishing well

At the bottom of the wishing well in thepark, there is a little town you cant seebecause it is dark.They watch people walk by thousands oftimes, hoping they might just throw downsome dimes.People think its just a well, but what they

dont know is that its lled with spells.If they would just throw down a pennyor two, they would nd that their wisheswould come true.The well is a dirty shade of yellow andgreen, but if you look down it will indeedstart to gleam.Long ago kids would line up to make awish; one day some kid even brought herpet sh.So for now the little town will wait, until

a child comes and nds out her fate.- MORGANWASHBURN, PITTSFORD

Brandeis blue

It was the most brilliant shade of blue Idever seen.I was walking in town, and what did I see?A whole ton of blue; it was all around me.Up and above, and all down below, it was

everywhere, but I just went with the ow.The sky, the homes, the cars, the coast!A color loved by many, actually, most.Every little corner had a shade of blue.It could be bright, or even dull, too!However it became a little repeated.My frustration got bigger; I got reallyheated. But then I saw this one little shop.It was so brilliant, I wanted to drop.The sign, the seats, the walls, the treats.It was all blue! A blue bakery.

They offered it all! My favorites blue tea!It was a wild shade of blue, not like theothers.This great little idea came from another.I walked in the shop with an open mind.The clerk didnt notice me; it was like hewas blind!I went up to him saying, Can I get someblue tea?He gasped and he looked like he wantedto ee.

Not blue, BRANDEIS! the clerkprojected, saying it like Brandeis wassomething he respected.And then I realized that Brandeis was thatwild shade!I ordered the tea, and then I paid.I walked out of there with a smile on myfacebecause then I knew that this was theplace.

- RACHEL GREGORY RUTLAND

Decisions

Your life is made up of millions and bil-lions of decisions.And all of those decisions affect the restof your life.The decision to go left or right willchange your path;it will alter it in ways that can be good,or bad.Your decision to walk faster might saveyour life, or it might end it.Your decision to go to a party could intro-

duce you to your future husband,or it could condemn you to eternal loneli-

ness.Every decision you make could changethe rest of your life.Every left turn could lead to disaster orconquest,and every right turn could do the same.So, what I am asking you to do ismake your decisions wiselybecause you never know where they canlead you.

- MAGGIESCHILLINGER, RUTLAND


5/36

PHOTOSOFTHEWEEK

THISWEEK: Blue& General







selects the best writing and images for publication.

This week, we present responses to the challenges,

Blue: Write, using the phrase,it was the most beauti-

ful shade of blue,& Generalwriting in any genre.


power and value of writing. If youwould like to contribute, please goto youngwritersproject.org/support,or mail your donation to YWP, 47



VERMONTBUSINESS

ROUNDTABLE

Photos by Madi Cohen, Bolton

YWP NEWS

READTHELATESTISSUE




Five awful jokes

Knock, knock.Whos there?Phillip.Phillip who?Phillip my cup; Im thirsty.

Knock, knock.Whos there?Lion.Lion who?

Lion on the front porch. Let me in!

Knock, knock.Whos there?Dwayne!Dwayne who?Dwayne the bathtub quick!Im dwownding!

Knock, knock.Whos there?

Ailene.Ailene who?Ailened on the door and it opened.

Knock, knock.Whos there?Police.Police who?Police stop telling these awful knock-knock jokes!

-DYLANLEE, BENSON

Blue

It was the most beautiful shade of blue Idever seen.Her eyes.Each day they changed,and I had never seen them the same.Yet, they were always those blue eyes.And when we kissed,

her pale eyelids drooped,hazy with the sense of lust.I never told her the way they drooped andespecially how much I loved it.And now I wish I could.Specks of grey and green,specks of confusion and true feeling.Bitch.The most beautiful shade of blue eyesplayed me.Again.

But here I am wanting to see the eyelidsslightly hide the hazy blues.Here I am wanting to be close enough torecognize the specks of grey and green,the specks of confusion.Again.Im addicted to her and I have no ideawhat Im doing,no idea why I keep coming back to let myown dull eyes swallow the blue.But here I am.

Once again.Desperately wanting her to see the bluein me.

- RORYBELLECARRARA, RUTLAND

Ice and raindrops

Its the color he sees in the ice he is eat-

ing.Its the color of the app on which he istweeting.Its the color he sees when the raindropsfall to the ground.Its the color he feels when hes startingto feel down.Its the color that he sees out the windowof a plane.Its the color of the seats hes sitting on ina train.

Its the color of the lake he sees below hisfeet.Its the color of the sweet candy he likesto eat.Its a perfect shade of blue, one that can-not be outdone.Its a perfect shade of blue, one thatevokes a feeling of fun.

- MATTHEWCREED, RUTLAND


6/36

THISWEEK: Humbling& General


Young Writers Project is an inde-pendent nonprot that engages stu-dents to write, helps them improveand connects them with authenticaudiences in newspapers, before liveaudiences and on web sites,young-writersproject.org, vpr.net, vtdigger.

org, and cowbird.com. YWP alsopublishes The Voice,a monthly digi-tal magazine with YWPs best writ-ing, images and features. To learnmore, go toyoungwritersproject.orgor contact YWP at (802) 324-9537.

Each week, Young Writers Project receives several

hundred submissions from students across Vermont

and New Hampshire. This week, we present respons-

es to the writing challenges, Humbling:Start a story

with, I thought I knew the answer...& General

writing.Go toyoungwritersproject.org to read more

great writing.





BURLINGTONTELECOM

YWP NEWS



to The Voice,

YWPs digital literary magazine!

Breanna Johnson, Shrewsbury

NEXTCHALLENGES

Blue. It was the most brilliant shade ofblue Id ever seen Work that phrase(or concept) into a poem or story.Alter-nate:Framed:You have a photographof a meaningful moment. Describe

it. But wait, theres more now tella story about whats just outside theframe. Post the photo! Due April 22

Passage: You nd a secret passagein the basement of your grandfathershouse. Where does it lead? How doesit change your perspective about yourfamily/grandfather?Alternate: Surveil-lance: What do you think about gov-ernment or military surveillance? When

does it go too far? Due April 29

Back. Oh gosh, theyre back... Writea story based on or using that phrase.

Alternates: Certain: Make a list of10 things you know for sure. You canstart your list with the words, This Iknow It can be funny or serious; orGeneral: Send us your best work ofany category or type that youve cre-ated in or out of school. Due May 6

Submit writing to youngwritersproject.org.

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

When the worldwakes upHave you ever just stopped and lookedoutsidewhen the world is waking up from win-ter?A soft, gentle breeze runs through thetrees

almost as if to softly rattle them awake.Birds awake from their long naps andpeek out from behind branches.They chirp and they sing as their brothersand sisters join them.Small patches of snow slowly melt awayas the sun breaks through the cloudsand showers the world with light.Rabbits rub their eyes as they waken andslowly climb out of hibernation.Other animals join them as the whole

world starts to wake up from winter.Green grass slowly starts to overtake thewhite snowand, slowly but surely, the snow meltsaway and sinks down into the softeningground.A childs laugh can be heard from faraway as snow pants and snow boots areshed for short sleeves and sandals.Windows open as people yearn to breathein the scent that only shows itself in

spring.Animals and people alike shake off theirwinter coats and start to enjoy,when the world wakes up from winter.

- MAGGIESCHILLLINGER, RUTLAND

AloneI thought I knew the answer, but I

couldnt remember it.I knew it ve minutes before, so why

couldnt I remember it then?I thought it was inscribed in my brain,

ust another fact waiting for my mindto pull out. Why couldnt I remember itwhen I needed to remember it the most?What was wrong with me?

I stood on stage, the whole school

looking at me. I stood there with a whiteface and a lip that quivered. I could feelmy heartbeat pounding away within mychest.

I felt alone and abandoned, but therewere 100 people around me. It felt like Iwas a sh in a sea of sharks.

There was nothing I could do exceptstand there, no hope to escape the fatethat was waiting to come.


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7/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

THISWEEK: One-sided& General






and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and

students selects the best writing and images for

publication. This week, we present responses to the

prompts, One-sided:Write about a one-sided conver-

sation and what happens;& General writing.





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Kevin Huang, Burlington High School READTHELATESTISSUE




YWP NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

TOTHEWINNERSOFTHE

I ANDYOU

POETRYCHALLENGE!

Ben Maksym of Grand Isle

Kaytlyn Young of Shelburne

Peyton Cassel of Lancaster, PA

Winners receive two tickets to theVermont Stage play, I and You, atFlynnSpace in Burlington from April20-May 8. See the winning poems andall submissions to the challenge at:

youngwritersproject.org/iandyou.

Tickets to the play: vermontstage.org

Cancel that!I was so excited for our upcoming

Disney trip! Everything was planned. OurMagicBands had arrived and all our Fast-Pass+ and dinner reservations had beenmade. I couldnt even think straight, I wasso excited. In just a few weeks I would beat Walt Disney World!

One day, I was walking into the kitch-en when I heard my mom on the phone.Yes I would like to cancel the reserva-

tion, she said.I started to freak out.Yes, the Polynesian Resort, I would

like to cancel that, she said.That was it! She was canceling the

Disney trip! I didnt know why, but whyelse would she be canceling a reservationat the hotel?

When she got off the phone, I started

to talk so fast that I was almost out ofbreath. I asked her why she canceled thetrip. She didnt have a chance to speak.

I heard you on the phone cancelingthe trip! I yelled.

It turns out there was just an extraroom on the reservation. She was cancel-ing the extra room.

I had freaked out for nothing.

- NOAHDURKEE, RUTLAND

Best friendShe is nice.She is good.She is smart.She is kind.She is (tries to be) funny.I am proud to call her my best friend.

- ANGELAPERRY, RUTLAND

The school weekMonday: You feel like a zombie;

youre just half awake. You stumblethrough all your classes, trying at times tosmile, but sadly fail.

Tuesday:A bit sluggish, but somewhatbetter than yesterday. Today, when theteacher asks you what the capital of Cali-fornia is, you actually say Sacramento,unlike yesterday when the same teacherasked you the same question and you saidAlbany.

Wednesday:Somehow you have tonsof energy, knowing that in three days, itwill be Friday! A smile is on your faceand youre cracking jokes left and right.The whole school day is great exceptwhen you say crap right in front of yourteacher.

Thursday:Youre impatient; the day

is taking so long to end! Tomorrow isFriday!

Friday: Youre so excited! You havemore energy than you ever thought pos-sible! Unfortunately, during last periodwhen your teacher asks you for the capitalof Michigan, youre so lost in your ownworld, you say Idaho.

- ATHENAEUBER, RUTLAND

NEXTCHALLENGE

Blue.It was the most brilliant shadeof blue Id ever seen Work thatphrase (or concept) into a poem orstory.Alternate:Framed:You have aphotograph of a meaningful moment.Describe it. Tell a story about whatsjust outside the frame. Post the photo!Due April 22

G l i iM i l b h C t it?


8/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK









MGN FAMILYFOUNDATION




selects work for publication. This week, we present

responses to the challenge to write about anything in

any genre. Read more atyoungwritersproject.org,a

safe, civil online community of writers and artists.



to The Voice,

YWPs digital literary magazine!

Kaleb Aiken, Essex Junction

NEXTWRITINGCHALLENGES

Op-ed.Write an opinion piece based on a current news story. Take a side and makea persuasive argument.Alternate:Awoke:I awoke to the sound unleash a poemwith this line. Due April 15

Blue. It was the most brilliant shade of blue Id ever seen Work that phrase (orconcept) into a poem or story.Alternate:Framed:You have a photograph of a mean-ingful moment. Describe it. But wait, theres more now tell a story about whats justoutside the frame. Post the photo! Due April 22

My life as a catMy life is terrible. Every time our

owner calls my sister and me for dinner,she always beats me.

Every time there is company, my sisteralways grooms herself and her fur looksthe best. Every, every, every time. I hate

it.I feel like Im a dork and my sister

always gets more attention.When our owners son is sad, he al-

ways relies on Margo. Margo is my sister,the cat with the nice, always groomedblack and white fur, and everyone alwayssays, Awww, what a cute, little kitty.

And I, well, Im just ignored. ...

- ANNABOROWY, WESTRUTLAND

Magical bush

It used to be beautiful.We used to sit inside and pretend it wasour house.We pretended the branches were chairsand the dirt-covered ground was carpet.We would cover our faces as we ran inthrough the pretend doorbecause if we didnt, we would come outwith more scratches than we went in with.The small leaves would get stuck in ourhairand when we got in the shower, theywould fall out of the creases in ourclothes.We would spend hours out there,my sisters and me.We would play and our imaginationswould take fight.We would pretend we were olderor younger.We would pretend we were each othersparentsand we would clean the houseust like our Mom and Dad did.

And now at the end of my lifetime,ust as I turn 100,

I return to the magical bushthat held my imagination as a child.However, just like my childhood,the three bushes that made up the walls ofour pretend housedied.Nothing is left.Except for three small stumps.Tears come to my eyesand run down my wrinkled, old face.I cry for the memories.I cry for my childhood.I cry for my sisters.I cry for the three small stumpsthat are all thats left of my beautifulchildhood bushthat was the home of my imagination,and the home of my childhood happiness.As I sit on the three small stumps,my old and creaky limbs yearn to jumpand run through the makeshift door that isonly of my imagination.They yearn to sit on the branches andswing upside down.But my beautiful bush is gone,and its not going to come back.

- MAGGIESCHILLINGER, RUTLAND

MOREGREATWRITINGAT


&THEVOICE

Cant you see it?

Cant you see it?The way my cheeks turn pink,The way I hide my eyes,The way you make me smileWhen you smile and walk by.

Cant you see it?

The way I giggle at your jokes,The way I poke fun more than most,The way I try to impress youWhen I brag and boast.

Cant you see it?But then again, how could you?I hide my feelings away,I dont think I can tell youBut maybe I will one day.

- HEATHERMCMANUS, RUTLAND

T W G l itiD t i O d


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This week, we present responses to the prompt, Gen-

eral writing.Read more atyoungwritersproject.org,

a safe, civil online community.

Dont give upEveryone has a point in their lives

when they want to be done with every-thing, and just have a break from theworld. We get these feelings mostly fromother people around us. Many kids getbullied because of their looks, personality,or even just being themselves.

Personally, I have many people Iwould like to give up on. But I am not thetype of person to just stop caring and giveup. I like to push myself and keep tryingbecause everyone in this world is justtrying to live.

Honestly, giving up on a person seemsso unfair. Why spend your life unhappyand hating people when instead, youcould give people a chance.

One of my greatest pet peeves is meanpeople, and unfortunately, our world has

many of them.People just dont care about anything

anymore, and would much rather makethemselves happy by making fun ofothers because they think its funny orsomething.

My question is, whats the point in giv-ing up on people? Is it because were toolazy to even try or give them a chance?

Life obviously isnt full of secondchances, but what even is a second

chance? All were doing is keeping ourtrust and faith in that person.I would much rather give people more

chances than just give up and move on.It probably is the easier thing to do, but itreally isnt OK.

Although I am against giving up onpeople, I have done it in the past. It reallyis a hard thing to do, and sometimes itseems as though you dont have much ofa choice.

There comes a time when the person

you are trying to communicate with justkeeps giving up on you.

You try to reach out to them, but theykeep pushing you away.

Thats when I want to give up. I giveup when people show me they dont careanymore.

Its the saddest thing, especially whenyouve been trying for a long time, butthe point is that we have no control.

We dont have any guarantees, and we

never know whats going to happen inlife. As fallible as we all are, we have tokeep trying, and we have to keep reachingout to others.

- ERINMCCLALLEN, RUTLAND

One wordHey.That one word is all it took. All he had

to do was walk up to me, with those bigbrown eyes and say that one word with asmile bright enough to light up a city. Itwas that one word that made me immedi-ately fall head over heels in love with thisgorgeous stranger.

And so it began.We were best friends, but it was more

than that. We shared everything witheach other, never worrying if it could gowrong. We were madly in love. Whenwe were together it was like the rest ofthe world didnt exist; we had eyes onlyfor each other. I love you, he wouldwhisper softly into my ear. We kneweach other as well as we knew ourselves,almost better. We spent hours just lying

together, sometimes not even talking, justenjoying being close to each other.

And then it happened; everything fellapart.

Im so sorry, he said, tears fllingthose beautiful eyes that I fell in lovewith.

But sorry wasnt going to fx whathe had done, nothing would. He, in onenight, had destroyed the beautiful thingwe had built. He had destroyed me.

-KATHRYNDUGAN, POULTNEY

YWP NEWS

DONTMISSTHEAPRILISSUE


THEVOICE







AMYE. TARRANT

FOUNDATION

Madi Cohen, Bolton

YWP NEWSTHIS WEEK: Footsteps & GeneralI believe


10/36




MOREGREATWRITINGAT


PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

Madi Cohen, Bolton

YWP NEWS

POETRYCOMPETITION!

GETPUBLISHED! WINTICKETS

TOTHISVERMONTSTAGEPLAY!

SUBMISSIONSDUEMARCH31

Info:youngwritersproject.org/iandyou

NEXTCHALLENGES

Tweet:Tell a story in a tweet (140-character segments).Alternate:Sound-Shower: Listen to the audio link on this challenge onyoungwritersproject.org/prompts15-16and write the story you hear. Due March 25

Humbling:I thought I knew the answer, but fnish the sentence in astory of a real or imagined experience.Alternate:Expectations: You meet yourbiggest idol. Describe the meeting. Is the person everything you had hoped foror ? Due April 1

THISWEEK: Footsteps& General





VERMONTBUSINESS

ROUNDTABLE



and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and stu-

dents selects the best writing and images for publica-

tion. This week, we present responses to the prompts,

Sound-Footsteps:Listen to the sound and write! &

General writing. More at youngwritersproject.org.

Stress on MondaysMondays.The beginning of the week, the beginningof my misery.

-ATHENAEUBER, RUTLAND

I believeI believe that we are equalno matter what they say,no matter where were from,or how we spend our day.

Pay no attention to the skin color,or the religion that they pray,

accepting one anotheris the kind and human way.

We shouldnt judge by who they loveor choose to be in life,because hurting those whore differentwill only cause grief and strife.

My beliefs are not as commonas I hope that they would besince we do live in a landwhere everyone should be free.

Many may opposebut I wont change how I feel,because I dream of equal timesthatll one day become real.

-HEATHERMCMANUS, RUTLAND

On the golf course

The golfer stepped up to the tee.He said, Oh gosh, what do I see?He was looking up to the pin.Then, in a ash, he had a grin.He stepped up right behind the ball.Once hit, the ball began to fall.The golf match took place in the fall.

The golfer was on his last tee.He tried to look for his lost ball.The ball was impossible to see.Then once again he had his grin.The ball was hit right off the pin!His shot was on point to the pin.Once the small ball started to fall,He stood there with his big grinAnd his last unbroken wood tee.Then he squinted his eyes to seeThat rolling toward him was the ball.

He kept his eyes on the small ballAnd watched the jiggly, wiggly pin.What he soon didnt know to see -Right in the middle of the fall -A squirrel had stolen his last teeAnd now gone was his big, wide grin.To be happy, to regain his grin,He said, I shall go hit that ball!Even though he had lost his teeAnd hit his ball into the pinRight in the middle of the fall

He still hoped, but lets wait and see.He hoped to win, he hoped to seeThat he would get back his old grin.Right in the middle of the fallHe stepped right up and hit the ball.He sunk it in the hole and pinAnd the squirrel gave him a fresh tee.He got his tee and he could seeThe pin lost to him, along with his grinWhile playing ball in the mid-fall.

ETHAN SCHMITT RUTLAND

Last stepAs the army marched toward us, we

were scared.Our husbands, dads, and friends were

marching off to World War II. Theywalked in a line, stepping together.

They dressed proudly, but the look ontheir faces told a different story.

They looked scared.And although the birds were chirping,

the soldiers were not happy.When they walked past us, they

stopped. The commander looked at hiswife. She was the last person he saw.


THIS WEEK: Ice & General writingIn the hallway I want to be


11/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK

THISWEEK:Ice& General writing








This week, we present responses to the challenges,

Sound-Ice:Listen to the sound and write; and Gen-

eral writing.More at youngwritersproject.org.





PHYSICIANSCOMPUTERCO.

Crackle of iceThe crackle of the ice in your cupis like a knife to the chest.You get the feeling of butteries in yourstomach,and then bam, you get the feelingknocked out of you.Youre staggering, trying to stand.Your daze is getting the best of you.Youre trying to talk,but your lips are sealed, cant move.You start to panic.What did I drink? What did I smoke?Your body goes numb and you hit theoor...You start thinking, I just got drugged.All it takes is one drink, one puff, and youend up ...

DYLANLEE, BENSON

Kevin Huang, BurlingtonNEXTCHALLENGES

Humbling: I thought I knew theanswer, but nish the sentencein a story of a real or imagined ex-perience.Alternate:Expectations:You meet your biggest idol insertcelebrity/public gure here de-scribe the meeting. Due April 1

We need you

Cant you see it how I see it,how I do what I do?How I help out with everything,and how you do nothing?We need you; we need your help,help with everything,

everything bad and good

scary and exciting,help with the hard times and the good,the forgiving and the forgotten,the worst and the greatest,help with the things that we dont needand the things that we do.Cant you see it?

AIDANBENNETT, BENSON

In the hallwayI was walking down the hallway, going

to my locker with my friend when thehustle of people went by and I lost him.

If we lose each other, we just screaminto the crowd, Ill get your stuff andmeet you in science class!

Today was different, though. He nevercame to class.

I asked my classmates if they had seenhim and they said they heard a rumor thathe went to the principals ofce.

How could that happen? I wondered.He is the best behaved kid in the schooland the smartest ... oh, the smartest! Heprobably got beat up and he is telling onthe jerk who did it. Good for him! Henever stands up for himself, I think.

After class I started to head toward mylocker, but it was hard to get to it because

a bunch of people were huddled around,screaming.

I was trying to see what was going on,but I couldnt see and then a girl askedme if that was my friend and she pointedto a kid on the ground getting yelled at bysome kid wearing a sweatshirt.

Oh, my God! I screamed, as I did thenerdiest thing possible at that moment: Ithrew my books and ran for the bathroom.

I thought to myself, Wait. You need to

help him out. Do the easiest and safestthing to help a person who is getting beatup.

Tell a teacher, I said out loud, and Iran in the opposite direction of the ghtand prayed he was at least knocked out sohe couldnt feel the pain.

Mrs. Carson! Mr. Bean! Mr. McDon-ald! Teachers, there is a problem outside!I screamed through the hallways, hopingthat the bully couldnt hear me.

But there were no teachers anywhere,

so I went to see what was happening withthe ght and all I could tell was thatit had moved from the hallway to theoutside.

The sweatshirt kid had gone and every-one was just looking at my friend, lyingon the ground, hardly breathing.

ANGELAPERRY, RUTLAND

I want to beI want to be the person who inspires allof your dreams,the root to your successes.I want to be the person who listens tothe words that you never let anyone elsehear.I want to be your go-to everything.

I want to be the one who makes yousmile harder than you usually do.I want to be the one youre associatedwith.I want to be your role model,the one you look up to.

RORYCARRARA, RUTLAND

READTHELATESTISSUE




I called you today THIS WEEK: Voicemail Train & More YWP NEWS & EVENTS


12/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK




Train tracks

Here I am, standing, waitingwaiting for him.He told me to meet him here.Im here right on time, 12 oclock.I have the money he wants, but hes nothere.I turn to grab the pay phone.Right as I grab it, a hand touches myshoulder.I turn around and its him.He takes the money and pushes me.

I trip and fall onto the train tracks

I can hear the train coming, but I cantmove.Im thrashing, trying to get up, but Im

hurt.The train is minutes from hitting me.If I cant move, I will die.The train is much closer now.Im screaming for help, but nobody canhear me.As the train hits me, I wake up. Im stillscreaming.It was just a dream, but it was so real.

JILLIANSTUART, BENSON

I called you todayI called you. I called you fve times

today, I called you six times yesterday,and seven the day before.

Its not faith. I dont have faith that youwill answer. I just like hearing your voice.I like hearing your voice because its inthe same tone it was every time you toldme you loved me. Hey, its Jake. I cant

come to the phone right now so leave amessage and Ill talk to you later.

You never said goodbye. You saidgoodbye means forever, so you just said,See ya later.

But I dont get to see you later, sowhy couldnt I say goodbye that time? Itnever went to voicemail before this. Youanswered every time I called. I rememberthe frst time I got your voicemail.

It was right after Dad called me at 3

a.m., exactly two years ago today. I wassleeping, waiting for you to come home. Iknew you were just out with your friends,but the phone rang.

Hello?It was silent.Jakobs dead, said my dad.Dead. My number one fear. When

someone dies they leave forever, butforever really means never.

You left forever and Ill never see youor touch you again. I didnt believe mydad at frst.

I called your phone; no answer. Thatswhen I knew it was real. The rescuesquad said your phone rang in the feldwhere you crashed.

So, yes, I called today, yesterday, andevery day since then. But its not faith.Ill call you again tomorrow and the nextday and every day after that just to hearyour voice.

EMILEESWEATT, BENSON

THISWEEK:Voicemail, Train & More





THEBAYANDPAUL

FOUNDATIONS


sions from students across the country. A team of staff,

mentors and students selects the best local writing and

images for publication here. This week, we present

responses to the challenges, Voicemail: Tell a story

or poem in the form of a voicemail & Sound-Train:

Write the story behind the sound you hear.

Emma Comeau, Shelburne

YWP NEWS& EVENTS

READTHELATESTISSUE




TEENOPENMICFRIDAY, MARCH11

BASEMENTTEENCENTER

39 MAINST., MONTPELIER

PERFORMANCEWORKSHOP5 P.M.

TEENOPENMIC6:15 P.M.

MOREINFO

youngwritersproject.org/node/5128

The same messageEvery day I write the same message to

you. I never have enough courage to sendit, though. I can never hit that send but-ton that makes the message go away and

turns it into a blue bubble.I can never change your contact and

put your name instead of just leaving yournumber at the top of the screen.

I can never send that message aboutwhat you did to me. I can never stopcaring for you. I can never stop worryingabout you. But Im trying to stop lovingyou.

Its not working out so far.

SOPHIATEDESCO, RUTLAND

NEXTCHALLENGES

Tweet:Tell a story in a tweet(140-character segments).Alternate:Sound-Shower: Click on the audio linkon this challenge and write the story youhear or use the sound clip and others to

create a soundscape. Due March 25

Humbling: I thought I knew theanswer, but fnish the sentence in astory of a real or imagined experience.

Alternate:Expectations:You meet yourbiggest idol insert celebrity/publicfgure here describe the meeting. DueApril 1

THIS WEEK: MomentKings apprentice The blue-green egg


13/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK








JANESTRUST

READTHELATESTISSUE




Madi Cohen, Bolton

THISWEEK: Moment



and beyond. This week, we present local responses

to the writing challenge, Moment:Use this phrase in

your story, Never forget this moment, my child, the

old man said Read more great writing at young-

writersproject.org.

YWP NEWS

King s apprenticeBoom! The sound echoed down the

street. The huge door at the front of thecity rattled and shook as if a fearsomebeast were about to smash through.

The people of the city were runningaround, shoving each other to reachsafety. Thousands of feet were poundingagainst the stone pavements. Soldiers

rushed toward the gate, drawing theirswords and leveling their spears.

One of the soldiers was a teenage boy.His name was Valkryn. He was nervousand excited at the same time, for this washis frst battle. He had spent the past yearmarching around the kingdom, catchingthieves and walking back and forth forhours while on patrol.

As he charged forward with the othersoldiers, another boom erupted, causing

the door to fall and the walls to crack.Suddenly, the attacking army swarmed

in and total mayhem ensued. The soundsof swords clashing, shields banging andarmor clanking flled the air.

Valkryn dodged around, every now andthen hitting an enemy with his shield. Hewas taken by surprise as he slammed intosomebody and stumbled back; instantlyhe realized that it was the king!

Your majesty, Valkryn cried. What

are you doing here?What does it look like? the kingreplied as he deected a sword and slicedhis own sword through the attacker.

Im helping my people! Now getbehind me before you get yourself killhe said just as an arrow struck his chest.

Your majesty! Valkryn shouted as heran forward and crouched next to the kingwho had fallen to the ground.

With long, shaky breaths, the kinggrabbed Valkryns hand and placed some-

thing small into it. Never forget this mo-ment, my child, said the old man, beforetaking one last breath.

Valkryn defended the kings body untilhe was hit on the head and knocked outcold. When he woke later, he was in theroyal palace, lying on a magnifcent bed.A man in royal robes stood near the bed.

Valkryn started to ask a question whenthe man held up his hand to stop him. Iwill explain everything he said. Just

listen. We drove back the attacking army,but we lost many lives, one of them beingthe king. You happened to be there whenthe king died, so he gave you this.

He held up a gold ring. This ring, theman said, is part of the royal family. Theking gives this to the heir when he thinksthe heir is worthy. The king, having noheirs, has given it to you. ...(Full story at youngwritersproject.org/node/4583.)

GRIFFINKINGSBAUER, RUTLAND

The blue green eggScratching noises were coming from

a blue-green egg. Suddenly, some cracksappeared. Peeping sounds could be heardas if the creature inside was saying toitself, Come on; you can do it.

The egg started rocking back andforth with more peeping and scratchingnoises. Then CRACK! The egg broke

open, and there lay a blue-green dragonhatchling.

The baby dragon rolled onto its fourlegs, stood up and looked around as if tosay, TA-DA!

She rustled her wings, icked hertail, and started to look around. She wasstartled when she heard a loud bang andthe sound of footsteps approaching asa young girl and an old man came intoview.

The girl had violet eyes and straightblack hair. Her name was Zoe. The oldman was her grandfather.

Zoe smiled and bent toward the babydragon. When the baby came over andrubbed against her legs, Zoe smiled andsaid, I will call you Coral.

As Zoe petted Coral, the old man said,Never forget this moment, my child.

MADISONKINGSBAUER, RUTLAND

MOREGREATWRITINGAT


THIS WEEK: General writingTrump YWP NEWS& EVENTS


14/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK









BURLINGTONTELECOM


hundred submissions from students across Vermont,

New Hampshire and beyond. A team of staff and stu-

dents selects writing for publication here. This week,

we present responses to the challenge to write about

anything in any genre. Read more atyoungwritersproj-

ect.org,a safe, civil online community of writers.

A metaphorical

pantoumMusic is like life.If you mess up, you can try again.With determination, you can get evenbetter.Your inner talents will eventually bloom.

If you mess up, you can try again.It is full of opportunity.Your inner talents will eventually bloom

Although there are many bumps along theroad of success.

It is full of opportunity.With determination you can get even bet-terAlthough there are many bumps along theroad of success.Music is like life.

ETHANSCHMITT, RUTLAND

Trump

Trump has really funny hairand his skin is like a tangerine;he hides behind a lot of lies,a money-made smoke screen.

The things he says are racist,sexist and obscure;the only way hed be alrightis if stupidity had a cure.

If he becomes the man in charge,I will surely leave;the loss of a once great countrywe will have to grieve.

HEATHERMCMANUS, RUTLAND

Grandmas brisket

My mother sat across from my grand-mother at the dining room table,sipping on tea,and told her that she would be remem-bered for her brisket.I didnt want to try to imaginea day without my grandmothers brisketor old magenta lipstick marks on her

teacup.But I did knowthat she would be rememberedfor more than her famous brisket.

ALIYASCHNEIDER, RUTLAND

NEXTPROMPTS

Clouds: Imagine you have the abilityto foat up to and walk on clouds -- andnot fall through. What do you do withthis newfound power?Alternates:Pho-to-SeaStairs: Use the photo, Seapoint,Dublin, Ireland, by Giuseppe Milo towrite a story. Due March 4

Wishes: You come upon a wishingwell. What kind of magic happens at thebottom of a wishing well? Who handlesall these wishes and how?Alternate:Sound-Stirring:Listen to the sound on

youngwritersproject.org and write thestory you hear. Due March 11

READTHELATESTISSUE




TEENOPENMICFRIDAY, MARCH11

BASEMENTTEENCENTER

39 MAINST., MONTPELIER

PERFORMANCEWORKSHOP5 P.M.

TEENOPENMIC6:15 P.M.

MOREINFO

youngwritersproject.org/node/5128

Dylan Sayamouangkhua, Burlington

THISWEEK: Hallway YWP NEWSBad timing


15/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK




y





JANESTRUST



and beyond. A team of staff and students selects the

best writing and images for publication. This week,

we present responses to Hallway: Theres a confron-

tation in a school hallway in which there is a blatant

injustice. More at youngwritersproject.org.

At The Generator in Burlington by Kevin Huan g, Burlington (See more photos in The Voice)

GETYOURFREESUBSCRIPTION

ATYOUNGWRITERSPROJECT.ORG

gCould this class be any more boring? I

ask myself as I sit in the back of the classlistening to the teacher lecture us on howto properly write an essay.

I look at the clock and see we have 10minutes left of class.

If I go to the bathroom right now, I canstall enough so that when I return every-

one will be packing up for the next class.I stand up and ask to use the restroom.

When I open the door, I hear two peopletalking in the empty hallway. They aretwo students from a higher grade.

One is standing against the wall, andthe other is about two feet away fromhim. Both are clearly angry.

I eventually have to walk by them togo to the bathroom. I start walking towardthem and try to hear what they are saying.

The one against the wall keeps inter-ecting with things such as, Thats not

true, and I swear it wasnt me.The other one seems to be accusing

him of cheating on a test.Im now less than 10 feet away from

the two and can clearly hear the argu-ment. I look down and try to go by un-noticed.

They are so immersed in their argu-ment that they pay no attention to me.When I reach the bathroom, I can stillhear them clearly.

From the sounds of it, one kid cheatedoff the others test, and if he does not con-fess, both of them will be punished.

I go to the bathroom and wash myhands. As I am drying my hands, I hear abang.

I rush out of the bathroom and see onekid standing over the other, punchinghim. The boy on top looks at me and runsinto the bathroom at the other end of thehall.

All of a sudden, a teacher bursts out ofthe classroom.

The teacher sees me standing over the

kid, who is bleeding, and immediatelystarts yelling.I can explain! I say.But its too late; Im being pulled to the

principals ofce.

EMILYHATHAWAY, BRANDON

The interventionA young boy was walking through the

hall one day when he saw a parent anda teacher ghting about a child missingschool.

He watched as the two adults foughtlike children. He wanted to do something,but he was scared to intervene.

He thought for a minute and then got

an idea. If he went to the principal, thiswould end. He got the principal and theyraced to the ght.

The principal broke up the ght, andthe teacher turned red from embarrass-ment. The parent then stormed off furi-ously and enrolled her child in a differentschool.

MICHAELBLAIS, MOUNTHOLLY

Rydell HighSchoolwalking from class to class,

waiting for the day to end.The hallways connect each class. The

hallways have many storiesteachersyelling at students, ghts and just theeveryday gossiping.

It was in the hallways of Rydell High

where the biggest story happened be-tween two students. And I was there.

As I walked down the hallway, I hearda scream. Five others and I ran to thescene.

I looked around and saw my bestfriend and the most popular girl in school,lying on the ground.

Against the wall was her boyfriend,furious. I knew that they were havingsome problems. They were always ght-

ing about the stupidest things.She got up, but she was slow. She

didnt want to make him even madder.She started to walk away, but he

pushed her back down.His face was red and he acted with no

shame.She started to cry. I stepped in front of

her, and two other boys stepped in frontof him. I just couldnt let her get hurt onemore time.

Finally, a teacher came out and caughtthe boy. As he was being dragged away,he looked back at his girlfriend and me.

That was the last time we ever sawhim.

STEFANIEALLEN, RUTLAND

MOREGREATWRITINGAT


THATSNOTTRUE...

I SWEARITWASNTME.

What I see THISWEEK: See & General YWP NEWS


16/36

PHOTOOFTHEWEEK




Cant you see it? I ask myself.Im searching for an image that to meseems so impossible,but apparently to others it is clear as day.I am looking for a grown adultbut all I see is a little kid.Shes got this model-like gurebut all I see is just some ugly person,a girl thats popularbut all I see is a girl with two friends,a girl with no acne and perfect make-upbut all I see is a girl covered in zits withterrible make-up,a smart girlbut all I see is a B+ average girl,a girl thats always happybut all I see is a girl with depression,a girl that doesnt stress and is carefreebut all I see is a girl that has terrible

anxietyand a girl that loves herselfbut all I see is a girl that hates every partof herself.I dont see anything, I tell myselfWorst part is, I believe it, too.

SOPHIATEDESCO, AGE17, RUTLAND





CHAMPLAININVESTMENT

PARTNERS



and New Hampshire. A team of staff and students se-


week, we present responses to the challenges, See:

Write a story that begins with the phrase,Cant you

see it? & General writing.

Kevin Huang, Age 17, Burlington

VERMONTWRITESDAY

ISWEDNESDAY, FEB. 10!

Stop everything to write for just sevenminutes! Find out more atyoungwriter-sproject.org/vtwritesday2016.

Great game, ladiesRunning down the court. Trying to get

ahead of her. She is going for a fast breaklay-up.

If she makes this one, her team wins.If I block it, we go into overtime.Push it, her coach says as she

dribbles down the court.Run faster! Catch her! my coach

shouts.I get in front of her, stop the shot and

steal the ball. I pass the ball to our pointguard and she takes the ball down thecourt. Going down the court for a fastbreak and she makes it.

The buzzer goes off and our teamcheers like crazy and the crowd goeswild.

We line up to high-ve the other teamand tell them, Good game! and then wemeet as a team in the hallway.

Our coach tells us, Great game,

ladies! I am so proud of you for makingthis game a win and working as a teamand not just individual people.

We put our hands in and say, Win thenext game! Lets go, Coyotes!

And we throw our hands up.

MIRANDASCOTT, AGE13, BENSON

Fleigengeister mythIt has nally been spotted, and I am

proud to say that I was the one to see it.There have been rumors spreading aroundthis part of the country about this mys-terious winged creature, and I now haveproof that it exists. This monster is theFleigengeister.

I remember my parents telling me allabout this thing for years and years, and Ioften couldnt sleep at night. Recently, Idevoted two years of my life to living in

the woods, and I have found it. Its hardto explain what it looks like, but Ill trymy best.

The giant winged creature resembles apterodactyl, something that has been ex-tinct for millions of years. It has a gigan-tic pointed head, almost snake-like, withlarge, yellow, glowing eyes. Its almost asif it is staring through your soul. Its darkgreen in color, most likely to disguiseitself and have a sense of camouage.

On its torso, two large wings extendfrom both sides. Its wing span has to bean easy 18 feet across, but it just doesntseem real. At the moment, I remem-bered something from my childhood, theJohnny Quest cartoons. In the openingsequence, it showed this large dinosaur/pterodactyl-looking thing. This monsterI was seeing came directly from thatcartoon.

Underneath it, there are two large,three-toed feet, measuring an easy 36inches in width and over 50 inches fromtoe to heel. This leads me to believe thatit not only can y, but it can also walk onland, making it twice as dangerous.

Ladies and gentleman, I am telling youthis in strict condence as a friend. Dontdo what I did. Dont go into the woodsalone because you will see this thing, andyou will not like it.

MATTHEWCREED, AGE14, RUTLAND

NEXTWRITINGCHALLENGESSeuss. Write in rhyme! Create a cast of crazy characters! YWP honors the late Dr.

Seuss, who would have turned 112 on March 2.Alternate:Perspective:Tell a storyfrom the perspective or viewpoint of something unconventional: a chocolate bar, ahouseboat, a spider, etc. Due Feb. 19

Before: Think of one of your favorite places an old building in town or a barnor a house. Now imagine this place 100 years ago or even 200 years ago. What didit look like then? Tell a story.Alternate: Sound-Train: Listen to the sound clip onyoungwritersproject.org/prompts15-16 and write a story.Due Feb. 26

THISWEEK: EyesGuard your heart VERMONTWRITESDAYIS WE NES AY FE 10!


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hundred submissions from students. A team of staff

and students selects the best local writing and im-

ages for publication. This week, we present responses

to the challenge, Eyes:It was the eyes, chocolate

brown and always searching, that warned me to

Finish the scene.More at youngwritersproject.org.





AMYE. TARRANT

FOUNDATION

Kevin Huang, Age 17, Burlington

Dont do itIt was the eyes, chocolate brown and

always searching, that warned me to noteat the last homemade chocolate chipcookie.

MICHAELBLAIS, AGE14, MOUNTHOLLY

yIt was the eyes, chocolate brown and

always searching, that warned me to be-ware, to guard my heart with everythingI had, to not let go and give in for fear oflosing the last piece of myself to heart-break and misery.

It was the smile, always bright andshining just for me that told me to look

below the surface for things I hadnt seenin the past.

Then, it was the sweet words whis-pered that tempted me, that told me toignore my instincts and to actually let my-self fall, that told me he is different fromthe rest. This time will be better.

In the end, it wasnt his sweet wordsor warm smile that convinced me, buthis open arms that let me know he wouldcatch me.

KATHRYNDUGAN, AGE14, POULTNEY

WordsIt was the eyes, chocolate brown and

always searching, that warned me to stop.Their urgency made me pause for a

nanosecond; however, I kept the steadypace at which I was moving.

Soon after, doubt slithered into littleholes in my brain, causing my words torun like a wet painting.

My tongue twisted and fipped, and Itripped over the stream of words fallingout of my mouth.

I glanced over at the eyes again andthey seemed alarmed as if I had just setoff a bomb.

Thats when I realized that these words

that I was spitting out, the ones that werecausing sparked looks and locked jaws,they were just words.

They werent physical punches thatleave black and blues, but they hurt all thesame, and the hurt lasted much longer.

Thats what these eyes were telling me.Thats why they wanted me to stop.

NATALIEBARTON, AGE16, BRADFORD

OutedIt was the eyes, chocolate brown and

always searching, that warned me to backaway. Youve gone far enough, they tell

me. Theres no need.But I am impatient. I have waited longenough. And for now, I cant listen tothose chocolate brown eyes.

Yes, I say to my mother. Yes, weare. I turn from the eyes to my mother,whose eyebrows shoot up her forehead inconfusion and shock.

Minnie, the other one says. Hervoice is scratchy and small. Minnie, justwait.

Mom, were dating.

And now, my mothers eyes darken toa severity I almost dont recognize. Theyhavent looked that way since my brothertold her he was dropping out of college.But this time, theyre directed at me, andI almost wish I had listened to those eyes.

Minerva, what are you saying? shesays, voice low and threatening.

I draw myself up to my full height.Olive and I. Were dating. I can feelOlive tense next to me, but Im done. Im

past caring. Ive held this in for so longthat Im surprised I havent let it out yet.

Then, stillness. Silence. I swallow andwait. My mother doesnt move a muscle.Anxious, I look into the brown eyes thatso often search mine, looking for comfort,but am instead stunned. I recognize thoseeyes better than my own. They help me toknow Im on the right path. They consoleme, they calm me, they release me. Andtheyve changed. Theyve blurred withangry tears. Those chocolate brown eyesare hard and unforgiving. Those chocolatebrown eyes look like they dont want tohelp me anymore. Theyre telling me toleave and never come back.

Ol-Olive, I say, hoping, but she justshakes her head. She turns. She walksaway. And before I know it, shes out thedoor, taking those chocolate brown eyeswith her.

EMMABAUER, AGE16, STRAFFORD

ISWEDNESDAY, FEB. 10!

Stop everything to write for just sevenminutes! Find out more at youngwriter-sproject.org/vtwritesday2016.

THISWEEK: Space Travel YWP NEWS& EVENTS


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Time travel storeI was with some friends when we saw

an ad on TV for a space travel store. Wethought it was stupid, but we were allreally curious about it, so we decided togo see it. The store was about two hoursaway and we hoped it would be worth it.... It looked like a regular store except thatthere were less people going in and out.

Anyway, we walked in. It had theweirdest smell, and everything looked like

it had an inch of dust on it, almost likeno one had been in there for years. Therewere items all over the shelves that wereeither Space Travel Food or SpaceTravel Clothes. It looked like the entirestore was full of cheap items.

I saw one of the employees (wholooked just as old as the store) walkinto the back room, and then I heard aloud noise. It was a big rumble like anearthquake. I told my friends this and wedecided to devise a plan to see what wasback there. Some of my friends were thedistractors and the rest of us investigated.When we were in the secret room, we sawa huge machine, and Im pretty sure all ofour frst thoughts were that this was a timemachine. To make sure, we had to test it.So I walked into it, and I got really dizzyreally quickly. I was spinning into whatlooked like nothing. Then I was back atthe store, but I was outside, and everythinglooked newer. I realized that I had time

traveled, and I needed to get back. Thena couple of my friends popped up behindme. We were all confused, but we had toget back inside that time machine to getto the present. ... We were going to giveup and wait it out when we saw a guy puta sign on the window of the store, SignUp to Time Travel Today! That would beour only opportunity; so we all signed up.... Finally we took the trip to the present.Again, the dizzy sensation came back. We

walked out of the back room and saw thesame employees, but they were older. Wesaw our friends and it felt like we hadntseen them in a while, but it had only beena couple minutes.

On our way out, the employees gave usa wave and a wink because they knew us.They knew that we believed in time travel.I guess the store was full of cheap inven-tory and a few real secrets.

JOEYGIANCOLA, AGE13, RUTLAND

WRITINGCHALLENGE

Kaleb Aiken, Essex High School





VERMONTBUSINESS

ROUNDTABLE


hundred submissions from students. A team of staff,

mentors and students selects the best local writing and

images for publication. This week, we present re-

sponses to the challenge, Photo-Space Travel: Write

about the photo, Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co.

Read more great writing atyoungwritersproject.org.

INTERACTIVEAUTHORTALKS

SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 2 P.M.

YWP & VT DEPT. OFLIBRARIES

PRESENTTHEFIRSTINASERIESOF

VERMONTINTERACTIVEAUTHORTALKS

FEATURINGS.S. TAYLOR

AUTHOROFTHEEXPEDITIONERS

Check it out by video conferenceat Rutland Free Library

youngwritersproject.org/taylortalk

Author S.S. Taylor

READTHEJANUARYISSUE


THEVOICE



Seuss. Write in rhyme! Create a cast ofcrazy characters! YWP honors the lateDr. Seuss, who would have turned 112 onMarch 2.Alternate:Perspective: Tell astory from the perspective or viewpointof something unconventional: a chocolatebar, houseboat, spider, etc. Due Feb. 19

Visit historyCant you see it? Going into time and

visiting historic places? You can seeso many things, such as the pyramidsas theyre being made and how theyremade. Well, now you can do it with theT-26c, a machine that runs on completenuclear energy. Our time machine iscompletely safe-tested by scientists. Wehave been working on this invention formore than 10 years. The T-26c is split upinto three parts: the main car, the compli-

mentary diner, and the sleeping room, justin case you want to take a nice, comfort-

able nap. The trip costs between $100 and$1,000, depending on how far back youwant to go. The average length of time totravel is around three hours.

During your visit, you might meethistorical people, such as George Wash-ington, Leonardo da Vinci, Beethoven,and even King Tut. In the process oftraveling through time, you must visit ourdiner section.

CHANCEPASSMORE, AGE13, PROCTOR

Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co., Los Paseos (Creative Commons)

Ghost THISWEEK: Monologue Its him


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PHOTOOFTHEWEEK




Im in a dark room and the taste of dustrushes against my tongue as I open myouth in shock.I cant see anything and the room is

getting colder and colder. I try to lift upy arm to nd my jacket, but its too

tiff. I try to move my legs, but theyretill shaking. The only thing I can move

re my ice-cold eyes. I glance around theoom, hoping to nd clues as to where Im. But I still cant see anything.

Am I even alive?I feel hands lightly brush along my

houlder and I get goosebumps all over.y body starts shivering so much that

m shaking, not only because Im cold,ut afraid. I open my mouth to yell, buto sound comes out. I try to move again,ut Im still too stiff. I want to burst into

ears, but my face is frozen. Everything iny body has jus

Rutland Herald 15-16

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Transcript of Rutland Herald 15-16