It is 2017, and you know what that means! No, not failed resolutions. New writing and artwork! This month we have two poems that shows how to handle adversity while young. These poems may not be very cheerful, but since it is the beginning of the year, we can put all our fears and despair behind as we move forward. We also have an essay about a phone obsession, a recipe for a healthy chocolate cake, and some artwork for you to enjoy. So sit back, relax, and pray for snow as you read this month's post.
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| artwork by Max R., Grade 8 |
The
Dreaded Ride
Waiting,
in the cold dark morning
For
the blinding yellow eyes to distort my vision.
As
the bus turns the corner,
The
same old dreaded feeling arises from my stomach.
Oh,
who shall I sit with today?
Is
it the boy who reeks of month-old underwear,
Or
is it the girl who purposefully moves her feet so no one else can sit?
I
have no choice, I must sit with the cougher.
As
I take my seat, the rough leather clutches the fabrics of my clothes.
Then
it begins. It is the same coughing I
hear while in the front of the bus,
Only
this time, it is inches from my ear.
I
try to drown it out with music that pulsates loudly through my ears,
But
it is no use.
Cough,
Cough! Hack, Hack!
Sadly,
the irritations grow as if they are insects.
I
can feel every bump in the road
And
I start to develop a bruise due to the unusual amount of potholes.
Finally,
a safe haven arrives on the horizon.
As
stressful as it can be sometimes,
School
can always save me from the dreaded ride.
by
Jack D., Grade 9
The Roots of my Obsession: My Phone
I picked up the plastic toy phone which was lined with
different symbols on the colorful fake buttons. I was fascinated by the
over-exaggerated sounds the buttons would make when I pressed down on them with
my little fingers. My easily distracted three-year-old mind was intrigued.
I would yell "Hello" to the fake phone and proceed to talk to the
non-existent person on the other line.
As the summer rolled around going into my sixth grade
year, all I wanted was a phone. All of my friends were beginning to get phones,
so of course, that meant I needed one. I begged for a phone, but my parents
were persistent with their answer. And that answer was no. Being the
technologically advanced eleven-year-old I was, I created a Power Point listing
all the reasons why they should allow me to get a phone. To my delight, it worked.
I finally had a
phone. It was a deep red color with a touchscreen and slide-out keyboard. I
carried it with me everywhere I went, sliding the keyboard out and typing away.
I boasted about my new cell phone the way a proud parent brags about their
stellar child who just got back from winning a math competition after returning
from their volunteer job at the animal shelter. In those first few weeks with
my phone, I do not think I went fifteen minutes without checking it. I was on top of the world.
After Christmas break of my sixth grade year, everyone
returned with iPhones. Well, maybe not everyone. But those who did return with
iPhones—which was actually a lot of people-- showed them off and made sure to
let everyone know they had one. I'm not going to lie, I was just a little bit
jealous. But who would not be? Those kids had the newest technology that a lot
of adults did not even have access to. Not surprisingly, I wanted one. But I
did not say much to my parents because I knew what the answer would be if I
asked for one, and I would not be too excited about that answer. The one time I
did mention my desire for an iPhone to my mom, her response was right along the
lines I assumed it would be. She said I did not need one.
I remember looking out the window of our new home in
Pennsylvania to see the huge truck pull in with the words "Moving
Service" printed on the side. I watched with agony as the movers piled
boxes throughout the house. My parents knew that moving away from Massachusetts
was hard for me. I knew that they knew that, and I'd be lying if I said I did
not use that a little to my advantage. If there was any good time to ask
for an iPhone, that time was now. With a little help from the tears pouring
down my face at the mention of starting a new school, my parents were finally
convinced that I could get an iPhone.
From the very first moment I held the iPhone 5S,
silver and gleaming, in my hands, I knew it would never leave them. I was drawn
to fact that now I could do almost anything I could do on both an iPod and a phone,
but do it whenever I wanted to all on one device, which is exactly what I did. I
was constantly on my phone, texting, snapchatting, scrolling aimlessly through
Instagram, and listening to music.
Although my phone may distract me from studying
sometimes—okay, maybe all the time—I still take pride in my obsession. My phone is more than just a device. It’s
something that allows me to call my friends when I miss them the most, watch
endless hours of Netflix on Sunday afternoon, and blast my music on a long car
ride to temporarily tune out the world. I am completely obsessed with my phone,
and I would not want it any other way.
by Melina T., Grade 9
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| artwork by Camille L., Grade 9 |
Role Models
She's only a little girl, after all.
A beautiful little girl.
But the world wishes to break what is beautiful.
That's just how it works.
by Iliana S., Grade 9
To accompany this month's literary selections, we have this month's recipe, thanks to our editor and baker extraordinaire, Emily W.:
Healthy Chocolate Mug Cake
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| artwork by Courtney C., Grade 7 |
