The Flame palm Valley School

middle school literary Magazine

2015-16 Vol. 2 Spring Edition

 

The Flame Staff

Front Row, L-R: Chloe Barton, Makena Behnke, Carson Kessler, Jasmyn Bradford, Anthony Romo, Chelsea Bradford, Clarke Baskerville, Back Row, L-R: Elizabeth Shay, Brennan Nick (Co-Editor), Shelby Armor (Co-Editor), Jewels Burke, Josh Tyer, Lawrence Nelson, Brandt Baskerville   Photo By:  Dr. Tonya Carr (Advisor)

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Table of Contents Page 3: ➱ “World in an Iris” - Brennan Nick (Drawing)

Page 4: ➱ “Blossoms”- Carson Kessler (Photo)

“Underwater” - Carson Kessler (Poetry)

“Twin Palms” - Chelsea Bradford (Photo)

“Ice” - Chloe Barton (Photo)

“Hiking” - Jasmyn Bradford (Poetry)

Page 5: ➱ “Girl’s Best Friend”- Chloe Barton (Photo)

“Once Upon a Time ” - Brennan Nick (Photo)

“Second Star to the Right” - Makena Behnke (Poem)

Page 6: ➱ “Krampus”- Jasmyn Bradford (Review)

Page 7: ➱ “Sims 4”- Jewels Burke (Review)

“Belle” - Jewels Burke (Drawing)

Page 8: ➱ “White Iverson”- Jasmyn Bradford (Review)

Page 9-10:➱ “Crosshatch” - Jewels Burke (Photo)

“Sky 2.0” - Brandt Baskerville (Photo)

“The Sky” - Josh Tyer (Poem)

“Sky of Fire” - Anthony Romo (Photo)

“Twisting Skies” - Josh Tyer (Photo)

“Over the Edge” - Jewels Burke (Photo)

Page 11: ➱ “When Darth Vader…” - Chloe Barton (Meme)

“When You Study All Night..” - Clarke Baskerville (Meme)

“Finishing an English Essay…” - Jasmyn Bradford (Meme)

Page 12: ➱ “A Kitchen Disaster”- Carson Kessler (Pun)

“International Consoles” - Lawrence Nelson (Pun)

“American Presidents” - Lawrence Nelson (Pun)

“Baby on Board” - Lawrence Nelson (Pun)

“Fruit Have Standards Too” - Josh Tyer (Pun)

“Eggsplosive Puns” - Josh Tyer (Pun)

Page 13: ➱ “Jellal Fernandez” - Shelby Answer (Drawing)

“Royal Noblesse” - Lawrence Nelson (Drawing)

“Stardust” - Josh Tyer (Drawing)

Page 14: ➱ “Stand by You” - Elizabeth Shay (Review)

Page 15: ➱ “Home Sweet Home” - Anthony Romo (Photo)

Page 16-18:➱ “I Think It Started With a Seal” - Shelby Armor (Short Story)

Page 19: ➱ “Arc de Triomphe” - Mia Heckmann (Photo)

“Around the World” - Elizabeth Shay (Photo)

“Beyond” - Makena Behnke (Photo)

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Page 20: ➱ “Days Going By” - Clarke Baskerville (Photo)

“Ocean” - Brandt Baskerville (Photo)

“To the Sky” - Clarke Baskerville (Photo)

Page 21-22:➱ “Trek of the Cimmerian” - Brennan Nick (Short Story)

“Star Flower”- Jasmyn Bradford (Drawing)

Page 23: ➱ “Bambi” - Elizabeth Shay (Drawing)

“A Fairy Tale Must Be Repeated at Least Once in Order to Be Comprehended” -

Shelby Armor (Short Story)

Page 24: ➱ “Beanie” - Jewels Burke (Drawing)

“Beauty” - Jasmyn Bradford (Drawing)

“Happy Panda” - Elizabeth Shay (Drawing)

“Hedgehog” - Jasymn Bradford (Drawing)

“Winter Season” - Chloe Barton (Drawing)

“The Eye of the Snake” - Anthony Romo (Drawing)

Page 25: ➱ “Alive-Sia” - Elizabeth Shay (Review)

“Simba” - Jewels Burke (Drawing)

Page 26: ➱ “Pentatonix” - Elizabeth Shay (Review)

“Happy Days” - Makena Behnke (Drawing)

Page 27: ➱ “Tantalus” - Carson Kessler (Poem)

“Writer’s Weapon” - Carson Kessler (Drawing)

“A Young Girl’s Dream” - Shelby Armor (Poem)

Page 28: ➱ “Empty Plains” - Josh Tyer (Poem)

“Trust Fall” - Carson Kessler (Drawing)

“Just a Memory” - Elizabeth Shay

“World in an Iris” By Brennan Nick

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Flora

Underwater by carson kessler I drown my problems in the ocean,

while I keep my chin above water and try to swim.

The rhythm of my heart, the gentle breeze,

and the song of words unspoken.

A forced smile,

and a new night for misery.

“Blossoms” By Carson Kessler Hiking by jasmyn bradford

I just love hiking up to the cliff outlooking

on the hazy sky.

Listening to the crackle of leaves “Twin Palms” By Chelsea Bradford

underneath your shoes.

Breathing in the icy air as you catch

your breath.

As you speed up from going down the hill,

The moist air catches your face.

Walking past the fragrant cherry blossoms

The aroma of the maple tree awakens

your senses

I just love the sweet feeling of hiking.

“Ice” By Chloe Barton

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miscellaneous

“Girl‛s Best Friend” By Chloe Barton

“Once Upon a Time” By Brennan Nick

Second Star TO THE RIGHT By makena behnke

No, I’m not lying.

He showed me the Neverland.

I saw pirates like Noodler, with his hands

on backwards

And also Bill Jukes, every inch of him tattooed.

Then Hook came out with his piercing blue eyes

that turn red as he cuts you

Next Tigerlily insulting Captain Hook,

though I wasn’t there at that moment

But she told us Tinkerbell and her pixie dust

Asking the mermaids where my brothers are

Sword-fighting the pirates with him

Who?

Peter Pan.

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Krampus By Jasmyn Bradford

When this large family meets over the

holidays, Max who is 11 is unhappy and turns

his back on Christmas. Little does he know,

his lack of holiday spirit has unleashed the

wrath of Krampus, a demonic force of

ancient evil intent on punishing

non-believers. As beloved holiday icons take

on a monstrous life of their own, they are all

forced to fight for each other if they hope to

survive. Viewers who believe strongly in Saint

Nicholas will be shaken up by the violent plot,

but there are many comedic scenes along with jump scares and suspenseful moments.

There are many references to Alpine folklore about the goat demon. The beginning of

the movie starts innocently enough as it shows the family getting ready for the arrival

of the crazy holiday. It quickly changes tone as the movie gets darker, when Max throws

his Christmas list out the window for being made fun of because he believes in Santa.

Then the movie turns to a horrific goat-like creature who comes to take away the boy's

family.

Despite its winter setting, Krampus is a good movie to start off the summer with a

scare.

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Sims 4 Review by Jewels Burke

The Sims 4 game is a virtual simulation game. It is the fourth installment from the

Sims franchise. When you start the game you can create your own character. You can

shape the face, and choose different hairstyles and hair colors. You can pick out clothes

for everyday wear, sleepwear, swimwear, formal wear and party wear.

When you’re done with your Sim, you can move into a house or you can build your

own. But, just like in real life, you have only a certain amount of money. You start off

with $20,000, and you can get a job to earn more money. As you live the life through

your Sim’s perspective, you can go to the gym, cafes, and nightclubs, and can even get

married and have kids.

There are so many things to do in this game, but if you play for a long time it gets a

little repetitive. People who like building houses, interior decorating, and creating a

make- believe character will like this game. I’d give it an 8 ½ out of 10.

“Belle” By Jewels Burke

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White Iverson REVIEW BY JASMYn BRADFORD

Post Malone’s “White Iverson” is an interesting, nice piece of music. With an

amazing beat, interesting vocals, and relatability, this song perfectly shows the best

characteristics of hip hop. At 18 years old, Post Malone moved to L.A. After meeting

some people, he eventually connected with Atlanta-based producer FKi. When they

became best friends, Post and FKi came up with the beat for his first single, “White

Iverson.” The tune begins with a delicate calming instrumental, and Post's vocals make

him seem like he is submerged. Not long after the introduction, a piano and more

drums are included, which construct the harmony. The beat basically stays along these

lines all through the entire track. Within the first six words, Post sings about how he’s

“the new breed.” Many people may consider this a rap song even though it does not have

a deep bass or hard hitting drums. This track is very relatable to modern American

culture. There are hints of trap rap, R&B and pop in the song. Fans of modern rap and

R&B will enjoy this song!

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Sky              

   

  “Sky 2.0” By Brandt Baskerville  “Crosshatch” By Jewels Burke

The sky by josh tyer

The grass ruffles as the wind blows low to the ground. I

am ready. I push off the ground as if it’s a trampoline.

Soaring high into the sky, cutting through clouds as I

rise. Spreading golden wings over the deceased land, I

look down to the corrupt earth that was once my home.

The Sun is the shelter to the day, but the Moon and its

night will always find a way. The clouds pass, and I am

alone. The Sun hides its face, and the cold Moon arrives,

Bringing the night. All alone, there is nothing. I start to

near the earth, the dark galaxy that was once bright, “Sky on Fire” By Anthony Romo begins to push. Forced onto the dry earth, I am shackled

by the night. Eyes begin to look, they begin to close

in around me. Pulling at the chains, but no hope. All is lost.

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Sky Photographs

“Twisting Skies” By Josh Tyer

“Over the edge” By Jewels Burke

“

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Fire memes

By Chloe Barton

By Clarke Baskerville

By Jasmyn Bradford

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Page o’ Puns

A Kitchen Disaster International Consoles Knife: My brother died…. American: Hey, do you own a playstation or Xbox?

Spoon: To be honest, he wasn’t Frenchman: Non

the sharpest… American:Well do you own any nintendo consoles?

By Carson Kessler Frenchman: Oui,Wii

By Lawrence Nelson

American Presidents

Guy: “Hmm, which American president Baby On Board

do you think was the least Man: I wonder if babies ever get hot

guilty when in office?” in their mother’s tummy

Guy 2: “Isn’t that obvious? It was Lincoln; Friend: Well, I would think

he was in a cent!” it would Be womb-temperature!

By Lawrence Nelson Man: This is why you aren’t married.

By Lawrence Nelson

Fruits have standards too Eggsplosive Puns Watermelon: Run away with me! Guy: * Scrambling eggs*

Cantaloupe: Thanks a melon, but I cantaloupe. Woman: Wow those smell eggcellent!

By Josh Tyer Guy: You mean to say they are

egg-stravagant? Woman: No matter

how many puns

you make I’m not coming out of my

shell! Guy: Come on! Don’t be so

hard-boiled!

By Josh Tyer

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Anime

“Jellal Fernandez” By Shelby Armor

“Royal Noblesse By Lawrence Nelson

“Stardust”

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By Josh Tyer

Stand By you Elizabeth Shay

“Stand By You” is the lead single in American singer Rachel Platten’s new album,

Wildfire, released on September 12, 2015. Part of the pop genre, this song has topped

iTunes, peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over 1.1 million

downloads. With a mid-tempo beat and uplifting lyrics, this song is very inspirational

and makes people feel good. This track has been embraced everywhere by people going

through tough times. With lyrics like, “Even if we’re breaking down, we can find a way

to break through,” and, “Love, you’re not alone ‘cause I’m gonna stand by you,” this

song will lift your spirits up and make you smile. With the help of co-writers Jack

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Antonoff, Joy Williams, and Matt Morris, Rachel Platten has once again produced a song

that will certainly inspire people everywhere.

Home sweet home by anthony romo

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i think it started with a seal By shelby armor

“Hey! Wait up!” my sister yelled. I rolled my eyes and took a seat in the sand. My sister

ran up quickly, but had to put her hands on her knees as she panted for breath. Then for the first time she looked up and noticed where we were. “Woah…” she breathed, not daring to break the quiet atmosphere. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I murmured. We had driven for three hours to see this. I didn’t know what it was called, I didn’t have the best vocabulary, but I described it to myself as a cove. It was a little cave, where the air circulated freely and a small body of water nestled peacefully in the center. “What’d you say?” My sister asked in response to my muttering. I sighed to myself again, my sister was only in fifth grade. Although my reign of seniority didn’t go that far considering I was an eighth grader. I mean, that’s what I would be if this thing called “grades” existed. “What’s up with that?” someone yelled in the distance, “You just run off and leave me to park the biwheel!” In the distance I heard bare feet running across the sand towards the cave where my sister and I were. The person muttered as they walked up and sat beside me. I stared down at the feet of this name-caller and noticed that its feet, were in fact, bare. My sister called out, “Why aren’t you wearing any shoes, ------?” Okay… this may come across as a little weird that you can’t read this person’s name, but if you go back say about, two days, this will all make tons of sense… I yawned and adjusted my eyes to the sun, and yes, my sister was jumping on me; determined to shake every ounce of sleep from my body. “Breakfast! Breakfast!” she yelled, ready to bring my sense of sound into this mess as well. “Trace! Gimme breakfast!” she hollered. “Okay…” I said as I slowly found my way onto my feet and to the stove on the other side of the tent. “You want some prummen, right?” I grumbled, still shaking off the feeling that morning somehow brought. “Yeah!” my sister yelled in utter delight. Thirty minutes later we were feasting. “Okay, Reina, I need to pack the supplies,” I said half chewing. “The mule decided that he, you and I should go into town to sell our extra food.”Reina finished her prummen as I packed the supplies. Within ten minutes we were on the road. Somehow, we weren’t troubled by bandits on our way; usually two children riding with cargo was a golden ticket to be looted of all of one’s valuables. So we actually arrived at our destination...a sprawling cathedral decked the entrance, with shops and houses surrounding it. I’m pretty sure it was called Jras Cathedral, or something like that. I should know, it is the capital after all. I still can’t believe it took us an hour to find a trading booth that was available, but when we did, Reina and I proceeded to take out our food and cloth to exchange for coins. I looked back to grab more supplies from my pack and noticed a teenage girl in the distance asking around to borrow someone’s “phone.”“Reina, take the supplies and sell them to this nice man for

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no less than 60 jans” I said already in motion.” Wait!-” my sister yelled, completely confused. But I was already gone as I ran past booths and people to this lost girl, who was still, miraculously, asking for this “phone” thing. “Um...who are you?” I said, still panting from lack of breath when I arrived standing toe to toe with this weird girl. Don’t ask me what got me to run over to her, I just felt like I might get a good kick out of her explanation for this. “Thank goodness!” she said, “Someone who will talk to me!” “Yeah, uh...what are you doing? Don’t interrupt people who are busy in their day.” “Oh...I’m sorry!” “Just watch out next time,” I said ready to hear her story, “...but what’s a “phone”?” I didn’t understand what happened next. First she looked at me like she was really confused, but then her knees buckled and she started sobbing on the floor. I didn’t know what to do, people were starting to stare. “Shh, it’s okay...” I said as I ushered her back to the trading booth and to my sister. I was kind of surprised seeing this breakdown, because from the looks of it, she was about fifteen. She should be taking care of herself, and much past the point of crying. The next four hours were a blur between sales, a midday meal, and getting this girl back to our tent without freaking her out. It was nearly sundown now. I had lighted a fire and was sitting there with the girl who apparently called herself Nicole. I poked the fire; she fidgeted uncomfortably. “Look” she said, and seemingly started to piece together her sentences all in one breath, “I don’t know how I got here...I was in my dad’s office, trying to find something on his computer, then I touched this weird circle, he used to call it a “seal”, but I don’t even remember anything past that point in time. I just feel lik---”

“Slow down” I said, “What’s an office?” This only seemed to upset her more and almost brought her back to tears. “Okay...” she said, taking a deep breath, “Do you know what school is?” I looked at her in bewilderment, “School?” “School.” she said, quite steadily for a person who was almost in tears moments ago. “You know, where kids go to learn while their parents are at work.” “Parents...” I tested the word out in my mouth, “I’ve never heard of either of those things” “Parents are the people who take care of you until you go to college.” “You mean our birthers?” I said questionly, “ They hardly take care of us, once we’re eleven. They cast us out to fend for ourselves. Reina’s the exception since I’m here for her.” “Wow... this world really is different,” Nicole said putting her head between her hands. I prodded the fire for a bigger flame and looked up, startled, when she started chuckling to herself. After that, she explained to me the world she lived in and how different it really was. She had these weird words like “iphones” and “grades.” Our conversation continued for a while; then we retreated to the tent to sleep. She also informed me that she was fourteen, not fifteen. The next morning an arrow was lodged in the ground next to my head and another arrow was coming at my face. I rolled to the side, jumped up and ran for the pot by the stove and kitchen supplies. I was used to this by now; bandits wanted our gold and would willingly go through me to get it. I looked to see the horde of enemies facing me, but one lonesome man stood in front of my tent with a crossbow. He was dressed in native gear, had a chocolate beard and brown, fuzzy hair. He shot again. I dodged. A voice penetrated the morning fog with a piercing shout, “Dad!” someone shouted, “Stop now!” Nicole walked out, her scarlet hair still tangled in the morning hours. With a

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distressed look on her face, she said, “What are you doing here?” Disbelief still in her eyes, she said, “ I thought you were on a business trip.” “A business trip?” this man said, “Ah, that’s what I said, isn’t it…” He took a deep breath and laughed, “ I was never on a business trip… being a bounty hunter is much better! I get gold and all I have to do is take people’s meaningless lives. At first I was reluctant to kill your mother, but she was onto my ways and had to be stopped. Technically I didn’t kill her, I only wounded her. Poison did the rest. But my boss exchanges the jans in dollars, so I can support you and me, and the gracious lifestyle we live.” “So, you’re evil…” Nicole said, fury steadily increasing in her eyes and her threatening tone of voice. “ Not evil, per say--” he said, but he only got halfway through his sentence when he found a kitchen knife flying toward his head. Nicole stood there holding another knife in her hand, ready to strike again. She was yelling in a blind rage, “ You were always gone, never there for me! Mother left when I was so young -- you said it was a car accident! You didn’t even care about mom. All you cared about was these “jars” or whatever they’re called!” The anger controlled her and she no longer cared about the consequences. She flung the other knife and struck him in the leg. He yelled out in pain, and I took the opportunity to run up and hit him in the head with my pan. He was unconscious within seconds. Nicole ran away quickly while I tended to the man’s wounds. I wondered what she was looking for. “Found it!” Nicole yelled in the distance, “My dad never goes anywhere without his motorcycle.” She rolled out a biwheel from behind the bushes. She said it had the same circle that was near his computer. I took action swiftly with this opportunity of a moving vehicle, “Nicole stay here, I’ll be back by midday.” With that I took Nicole’s dad and headed to the capital. There was a hefty ransom for him, and maybe he might learn better ways after some time with the sheriff. I know Nicole was sad, because even though he was a horrible person, Nicole didn’t want to let go of her dad. As promised, I was back by midday and told Nicole that they had decided to lock him up, and for that, Nicole was grateful, although she didn’t say it out loud. I decided that everyone needed some time to cool off, so we took the biwheel to the coves. Nicole drove, while I gave the directions, my short black hair bristling in the breeze compared to Reina’s long hair flowing elegantly in accordance to the wind. After three hours we made it to the ocean where I ran ahead to the coves with my sister struggling behind me to catch up. After Reina and I had settled down, Nicole came running, “Hey! Wait up! You just run off and leave me to park the biwheel!” She approached us, “Sometimes Tracy…” she muttered, taking a seat next to me. “My name’s Trace!” I said, sort of agitated, “It’s not that hard to remember, Nicole” I stared down at her feet and notice she wasn’t wearing any shoes. “Why aren’t you wearing any shoes, Nicole?” Reina asked. She smiled and replied, “It’s nice to put your bare feet in the sand; try it!” Reina and I reluctantly took off our shoes and enjoyed the sand between our feet. We watched the sunset as the sun set behind the mountains. We stayed and admired the stars. First Reina fell asleep in my lap, then I fell asleep. But Nicole stayed and stared at the stars until the sun came back up the next morning.

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TRavel Photos

Top Left “Arc de Triomphe” By Mia Heckmann Top Right “Around the World” By Elizabeth Shay

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Bottom Right “Beyond” By Makena Behnke

Travel to Seattle

“Days Going By” By Clarke Baskerville

“Ocean” By Brandt Baskerville

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“To the Sky” By Clarke Baskerville

Trek of the cimmerian by brennan nick

My trek was nearing its end when I could then see the mountain of Ekedi Daw above

with its peak just above the rain clouds pouring down on us, and I could faintly make out the shape of an eerie face made out of the side of the cliff facing us. I looked down at my necklace and remembered the “mournful mission” that I was sent on by my village in Cimmeria. They never told me what exactly it was other than saying that I first had to retrieve a tablet from inside the mountain and then defeat the deathless mass. I’ve now been hiking for three weeks, and I recently met one of the mountain folk named Fishguy. He would fish in the stream nearby with his dog, Pupfellow, and he lived with his daughter, Girl. He didn’t really talk much to me nor I to him, and when we did talk, the conversations wouldn’t last long. “Look at those blue roses. You know that means good luck here.” I wasn’t inclined to talk so I spared him no lies, “I loathe blue roses. It isn’t natural for those flowers.” Nearby we passed an old, decaying house where some birds, finches to be exact, were nesting. I could see two flying around the house and three eggs nustled in the twigs. “Worthless finches,” I muttered to myself. We finally reached the top after hiking through the mountains and saw a large, locked, iron door with a sign beside it which said, “Cimmeria, Parthia, Egypt, these are all realms of humans, Ekedi Daw is the realm of the dead.” While I was trying to figure out what it meant, Fishguy spoke again, “We mountain folk have our superstitions about this mountain, too. What superstitions do you have?” Before I could answer, we started seeing black vapor rise from the ground and realized that the whole place was a graveyard. But who would bury people all the way up here? We then saw the gate opening as if the place knew we were there, and we didn’t want to find out what the reason was. So I hurried us along to get the tablet and get out. After running for about a minute we entered an open room lit entirely by torches with a shrine near the back. There was a pedestal with the tablet but also an array of old bones behind it, shaped in a humanoid configurement with a boar’s skull as the head and other animal’s bones as the limbs and rib cage. The stone tablet had writing on it, which glowed a deep blue and was shifting. I took the tablet off the pedestal and ran back down the hall to the outside. The entire time I could have sworn I felt someone breathing down my neck, but I never saw anything so I didn’t think much of it. The tablet then began to glow a bright red, and I saw pictures in my mind of what I had to do. I had to run back to that skeleton, The Deathless Mass, where he would awake, then I

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had to shove the tablet into his stomach where we would both be consumed. At this moment I regretted everything and decided to run back as far away from this mountain as possible and get rid of the magic rock slab. Fishguy and I ran back down the mountain through the black haze and saw something odd. The skeleton body was now upright gliding along the ground with its black haze surrounding it. “That’s Girl!” It was Fishguy. We both saw that The Deathless Mass had now cornered Fishguy’s daughter against the cliffside, where we knew she would either be consumed by it or forced to jump off the edge into the river. Fishguy had completely broken down in sobs over the inevitable death of his only remaining family. I had never really had my own family, but somehow, I felt what he was feeling, so I made my choice. I sprinted across the graveyard down the mountain path to where Girl was running away and panicking in vain. I took the tablet off my back, held it up above my head, and ran, clutching it, into The Deathless Mass. My vision was turning a bright white and I saw Girl running over to Fishguy. I then closed my eyes, and I could feel the disintegration of the tablet and could barely make out the dispersing of a boar’s skull. There was an excruciating pain going through my body, and I could see the cracking of the ground below me. I then passed out as I could feel myself falling down from the cliffside into the river below. I was bleary and felt weak, but I was pretty sure I was still alive. I could see Fishguy, his still alive daughter, Girl, and their dog, Pupfellow, running to the bank to try and save me. I was floating down the river I had fallen into, and to my right I could see a rose bush, a rose bush of blue roses. I was speechless at the sight.

The next thing I knew, I was in Fishguy’s cottage, bundled up, on the ground by his hearth. I looked up above the hearth and saw a sign with an odd symbol and the words “Home is where the hearth is.” I tried to sit up but noticed that my legs were broken and my right arm had been wrapped up because it had started to bleed heavily. In too much pain to move, I just turned my head towards them. Fishguy just smiled and said, “You’ll be alright. Sleep if you can.” Fishguy was sitting on an old bench that he had carved with Girl sleeping on his shoulder next to him. I followed Fishguy’s advice and turned my head back over knowing that I would live and that maybe it wouldn’t be bad to stay with Fishguy and Girl for a while.

By Jasmyn Bradford

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A Fairy Tale Must Be Repeated At Least Once In Order To Be Comprehended by SHelby Armor

My grandmother once told me of painted skies and a blank sheet of paper, with nothing on it but ideas for the future.

This paper, hidden in a shed, buried in an Arabian desert held the concepts of happiness; the concepts of joy for all.

This paper, where it waited to be found, spelled out a future of good fortune and happiness. That’s what my grandmother had said, but I, being the curious child I was, challenged these ideas and yearned for more,

I yearned for more to that story, “Bambi” I yearned to understand this fairy tale, By Elizabeth Shay I yearned to be older so I could see, See the top shelf, live in a world where I would tell the fairy tales.

It would never come, I thought to myself. “Too long,” I said to my grandmother when she asked me how school was, and then I blinked, I could see the top shelf.

I had children of my own to read to every night, but my grandmother wasn’t here to see. When would those days come back, the days of exploring outside and playing pretend with my friends?

But they wouldn’t come back. I had wasted my innocent days thinking of things beyond my years, waiting to grow up, and doubting fairy tales.

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More Sketches and doodles and drawings, oh my!

“The Eye of the Snake” By Anthony Romo

“Winter Season” By Chloe Barton

“Beauty” By Jasmyn Bradford

“Hedgehog” By Jasmyn Bradford “Happy Panda” By Elizabeth Shay

“Beanie” By Jewels Burke

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ALIVE RevieW BY Elizabeth shay

Sia is an Australian singer and songwriter. Released on September 24, 2015, Sia’s

song “Alive” is part of her album, This is Acting. This song was originally written for

Adele’s album 25, but rejected at the last minute. The song was also rejected by Rihanna.

Part of the electro-pop, power-pop, and soul genre, this song has the raspy, ragged,

entrancing, and haunting vocals that are Sia’s specialty. With the help of co-writers

Adele and Tobias Jesso Jr. and producer Jesse Shatkin, Sia produced a song that has the

dramatic build, great lyrics, and amazing vocals that keep you wanting to listen.

Described by Rolling Stone critic Jon Blistein as “devastating and electrifying,” “Alive”

has made it up on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 56, and is

popular in other countries around the world, including Australia, Belgium, Croatia, and

more. All about overcoming hardship, this song has empowering and inspirational

lyrics including the repetition of “but I survived,”, “I’m still breathing,” “I’m alive,” and

more.

“Simba” By Jewels Burke

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Pentatonix Review BY ELizabeth shay

Pentatonix, the American acapella group who won NBC’s The Sing Off, has released a

new album. Pentatonix’s new album was released on October 16, 2015. For the first time,

their album is primarily their own material. Pentatonix is the first acapella group to

have a number one song on the charts. This album debuted at number eight in New

Zealand and number one on the US Billboard 200. Part of the pop genre, this album has

more of the catchy beats and great melodies that Pentatonix does very well. Normally

acapella music is not very popular, but Pentatonix’s music is starting to popularize

acapella music everywhere. This is Pentatonix’s fourth studio album, and their song

“Can’t Sleep Love” debuted at number 99 and eventually made its way to number one.

My favorite songs from this album are “Cracked” and “Can’t Sleep Love.” Originating

from Arlington, Texas, this American acapella group is now becoming a big hit around

the world.

“Happy Daze” By Makena Behnke

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Tantalus BY Carson kessler

The curse of Tantalus, my ever tarnished goal. That delectable, wondrous fruit always just out of reach. No matter how far I run, how far I leap, it always just barely escapes me with a mocking cheer. At times I whimper, yell, cry out at my failures just to punish myself, though I know it won’t help. It’s not always just fruit, it molds itself into whatever it pleases, to make itself a bit shinier, a bit more pleasing. “It’s just a trick,” I always tell myself. “What’s the point if it’s always “Writer‛s Weapon” By Carson Kessler just scraping my fingertips, giving me false hope.” All I want is that savory fruit, my goal and to say, “I did it” What a dream that is.  

A young girl’s dream By shelby Armor

A river, so majestic, so beautiful. Home to so many things and I cannot be one with it. My dreams are filled with the illusions of fins on my arms and flippers on my feet. It all seems so close, yet so far away.

I could sit for hours and sway, sway to the melodic sound of rushing water and jumping fish But I cannot breath water or slice through the sea, for I am human. And that is all I will ever be.

 

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Just a Memory By elizabeth shay

I feel nothing, only a faint glimmer of

emotion, what is it?

The lights are dim, they match my dim mood.

Every color around me seems to have faded a

few degrees.

I taste nothing, only unappetizing, tasteless,

and bland food.

Silence, a hush fell over this room the day you

left me.

All you are now is a fuzzy memory.

An indistinct presence not seen but felt.

“Trust Fall” - Carson Kessler

Empty plains by josh tyer

Towering over me,

The stars gaze down over the flat land.

The wind ruffles through the trees and dusts over my head.

I’m chained to the ground,

staring back into the void that is the starry night.

The great galaxy that encloses this small, pitiful, planet.

All I want is to break free of these shackles,

Spread great wings of freedom throughout the sky.

We will grow in number fueled by thunder.

But the gates close, and they clip my wings,

and I fall to the ground

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No matter how many times we burst into

flames, we can always rise from the ashes.

-Anonymous

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