The Magic In Telling A Story
by Alison
This is it, you think as you walk up the steps and stop at the large doors.
Today’s the day – the day you’ve worked so hard for. After months upon
months of rehearsing – of tears, laughter, sweat, and lots of frustration – you’re
finally ready. You didn’t think this day would ever come, but here it is at last.
Today is the opening night of your performance.
This is it, you think as you walk up the steps and stop at the large doors.
Today’s the day – the day you’ve worked so hard for. After months upon
months of rehearsing – of tears, laughter, sweat, and lots of frustration – you’re
finally ready. You didn’t think this day would ever come, but here it is at last.
Today is the opening night of your performance.
| alison_mckane_-_final.pdf |
Duncan Slam
by Jack
Meet Duncan Walsh. He’s 15 years old, does abnormally well in school, doesn’t have
a girl friend, wears his hat the wrong way and his shoes are 4 sizes too big. He’s the
least popular kid in the entire state, and he finds oversized football jerseys “hip”. He
may seem like a wanna be, but he doesn’t know it. To him, he’s Duncan Slam, the
coolest in the state. No matter what he does he’s the coolest kid who ever lived… to
himself. How is this possible, you may ask? Well, sit down and be a little patient, and
you might just figure out (Maybe).
Meet Duncan Walsh. He’s 15 years old, does abnormally well in school, doesn’t have
a girl friend, wears his hat the wrong way and his shoes are 4 sizes too big. He’s the
least popular kid in the entire state, and he finds oversized football jerseys “hip”. He
may seem like a wanna be, but he doesn’t know it. To him, he’s Duncan Slam, the
coolest in the state. No matter what he does he’s the coolest kid who ever lived… to
himself. How is this possible, you may ask? Well, sit down and be a little patient, and
you might just figure out (Maybe).
| jacks_awesome_final_draft_of_unbelievible_power.pdf |
Double Take
by Courtney
A full moon cast shadow on the cobblestone street as a slight figure walked silently
toward an ally, away from where a still form lay in the middle of the street. The figure carried
a small package and kept looking back, as if watched. If anyone had looked out the beautiful
flower framed windows they might have seen the figure slip the package into an ally and
leave, but they didn’t.
A full moon cast shadow on the cobblestone street as a slight figure walked silently
toward an ally, away from where a still form lay in the middle of the street. The figure carried
a small package and kept looking back, as if watched. If anyone had looked out the beautiful
flower framed windows they might have seen the figure slip the package into an ally and
leave, but they didn’t.
| courtney-_final.pdf |
One Lane
by Sarah
The road was narrow, and the dense green on either side made it look as if it
closed off at the horizon, like the dead end of a tunnel.
Adam sighed. Appropriate.
He tapped his fingers on his steering wheel, glancing at the time. How long
had he been driving down this one‐lane road? And to do what? To interview a
couple of old people in a dying village?
The road was narrow, and the dense green on either side made it look as if it
closed off at the horizon, like the dead end of a tunnel.
Adam sighed. Appropriate.
He tapped his fingers on his steering wheel, glancing at the time. How long
had he been driving down this one‐lane road? And to do what? To interview a
couple of old people in a dying village?
| sarah_rhymer_final.pdf |
The AMaZiNg
by Majesty
“There is something not right here,” I thought, so I
walked over to the shelf and fixed the book.” There that
is better.” As a librarian we always have to be on the
look out. Not as much though as my other job. Let me
introduce myself, my name is Ralph Lion but most
people know me as “The Amazing Spider Lion.” My
motto is that I fight crime and bad hair. As you can see I
fight crime well and looking at my hair it’s easy to see
how amazing I fix hair.
“There is something not right here,” I thought, so I
walked over to the shelf and fixed the book.” There that
is better.” As a librarian we always have to be on the
look out. Not as much though as my other job. Let me
introduce myself, my name is Ralph Lion but most
people know me as “The Amazing Spider Lion.” My
motto is that I fight crime and bad hair. As you can see I
fight crime well and looking at my hair it’s easy to see
how amazing I fix hair.
| majesty_drumwright_final.pdf |
More Than This
by Madison
I am Adesina, and I am 13 years old. I live in the Meru Tribe in Kenya. My mother
named me Adesina because it means she opens the way. I have asked her numerous times why
she named me that, and every time she would tell me that someday I will know. I hung on the
thought of knowing why someday for several years.
I am Adesina, and I am 13 years old. I live in the Meru Tribe in Kenya. My mother
named me Adesina because it means she opens the way. I have asked her numerous times why
she named me that, and every time she would tell me that someday I will know. I hung on the
thought of knowing why someday for several years.
| madison_buttonow_final.pdf |
Nisha and Mr. K.
by Lydia
Filled with animals and many visitors of all ages, there was one
very special elephant in the North Carolina zoo. Her name was Nisha. It
was an Indian name meaning ‘night.’ She slept all day long which was
very rare and was awake all night. Her name may have had a bigger
impact on her actions than her trainer, Mr. K, thought.
Filled with animals and many visitors of all ages, there was one
very special elephant in the North Carolina zoo. Her name was Nisha. It
was an Indian name meaning ‘night.’ She slept all day long which was
very rare and was awake all night. Her name may have had a bigger
impact on her actions than her trainer, Mr. K, thought.
| _lydia_salmon_final_story.pdf |
Maybe
Mirabel
Moving is never easy, but my exhausting migration from Mexico City to
Madison, Wisconsin, was like taking candy from a child. When my dad came
home with a dim look on his face, I thought he got in a car accident, but
instead found out we would be moving to the United States. My mother’s
reaction was bittersweet. She would have to leave twenty‐six cousins, five
sisters, four brothers, and the rest of her family, and have her baby on foreign land.
Moving is never easy, but my exhausting migration from Mexico City to
Madison, Wisconsin, was like taking candy from a child. When my dad came
home with a dim look on his face, I thought he got in a car accident, but
instead found out we would be moving to the United States. My mother’s
reaction was bittersweet. She would have to leave twenty‐six cousins, five
sisters, four brothers, and the rest of her family, and have her baby on foreign land.
| mirabel_salmon_final_.pdf |
The Slaying
by Ezequiel
"Did you have to drag ME along, too?"
"I already told you, I didn't have a choice in this. If I did we wouldn't be here," Rodalov
repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. Oducip's negativity was getting very annoying.
"What could we do against it anyway?" said Oducip.
"I have no idea, but they must have chosen us for a reason. Either that or they want us dead,"
Rodalov responded.
"Did you have to drag ME along, too?"
"I already told you, I didn't have a choice in this. If I did we wouldn't be here," Rodalov
repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. Oducip's negativity was getting very annoying.
"What could we do against it anyway?" said Oducip.
"I have no idea, but they must have chosen us for a reason. Either that or they want us dead,"
Rodalov responded.
| ezequiel_joaquin_final_story.pdf |
The Last Knight and Friend
by Joseph
A red flaming dragon named Sun was terrorizing Anglo-Saxons in a medieval
town of England named Jersey. He threw buildings, ate the bakery, stole lots of
metal, and he kidnapped many knights and civilians throughout the night; it was up
to Sir Bobert to save the city and his good people. On the journey he was
accompanied by his trusty sidekick Michael who carried all the supplies and what
not.
A red flaming dragon named Sun was terrorizing Anglo-Saxons in a medieval
town of England named Jersey. He threw buildings, ate the bakery, stole lots of
metal, and he kidnapped many knights and civilians throughout the night; it was up
to Sir Bobert to save the city and his good people. On the journey he was
accompanied by his trusty sidekick Michael who carried all the supplies and what
not.
| joseph.pdf |
The Shattered Glass
by Kameron
“Thump, thump” went the door of the bathroom I was
encased in. With each knock fear seared throughout my body,
I couldn’t figure out what it was that scared me so much
about this person. The sound of his fist banging against the
door scared me more than the thought of death. His eyes
were red, body was unstable, his stuttering voice repeating
“let me in, let me in, I’m your father, let me in.”
“Thump, thump” went the door of the bathroom I was
encased in. With each knock fear seared throughout my body,
I couldn’t figure out what it was that scared me so much
about this person. The sound of his fist banging against the
door scared me more than the thought of death. His eyes
were red, body was unstable, his stuttering voice repeating
“let me in, let me in, I’m your father, let me in.”
| kameron_currie_final.pdf |
Living the Dream
by Katie
"I'm so excited!" screamed my best friend Jaycee.
"I know. I am too," I told her. "But I am also really nervous!" I'm going to be on the Xfactor."
"Don't worry Bella. You are going to be great!" said Jaycee.
I know, but don't you realize that it's the same competition our idols, One Direction, were on and now they're going be judges.
"I'm afraid I'll mess up," I said nervously as I was packing my suitcase to prepare for England.
"I'm so excited!" screamed my best friend Jaycee.
"I know. I am too," I told her. "But I am also really nervous!" I'm going to be on the Xfactor."
"Don't worry Bella. You are going to be great!" said Jaycee.
I know, but don't you realize that it's the same competition our idols, One Direction, were on and now they're going be judges.
"I'm afraid I'll mess up," I said nervously as I was packing my suitcase to prepare for England.
| katie_gillespie_final.pdf |
The Time Bandit
by Kyle
Rahhhhh!!!!! Bang Bang!!!
Hey cade go away I’m trying to sleep! I took a look at the clock and the time was 11:34am. I walked out of my room and started my normal routine which was: get up, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, get in the shower and get dressed. Usually this takes about 45 minutes on a good day but when I looked at the clock it was still 11:34am. I thought the power had gone out and our clocks had stayed like that. But when I checked my watch it was stuck on 11:34am also. I knew something was wrong when I went downtown and the Wachovia clock was stuck on 11:34am. I was so puzzled by this I didn’t even realize that everybody was frozen but not by temperature. It’s like they were frozen in time.
Rahhhhh!!!!! Bang Bang!!!
Hey cade go away I’m trying to sleep! I took a look at the clock and the time was 11:34am. I walked out of my room and started my normal routine which was: get up, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, get in the shower and get dressed. Usually this takes about 45 minutes on a good day but when I looked at the clock it was still 11:34am. I thought the power had gone out and our clocks had stayed like that. But when I checked my watch it was stuck on 11:34am also. I knew something was wrong when I went downtown and the Wachovia clock was stuck on 11:34am. I was so puzzled by this I didn’t even realize that everybody was frozen but not by temperature. It’s like they were frozen in time.
| kyle_ward_final_draft.pdf |
Dragon and the Three Brothers
by Michael
Once in a medieval village lived a king and three sons of the king. The king was getting old and he had to decide which son could take his place. The king finally decided that the first son to slay the dragon would be king.
The dragon had a terrible reputation in the village. He had bat wing, big horn on his head, a big mouth that could eat anything and his skin was as red as blood. He would come to the village and destroy the whole village when he got angry in any way.
Once in a medieval village lived a king and three sons of the king. The king was getting old and he had to decide which son could take his place. The king finally decided that the first son to slay the dragon would be king.
The dragon had a terrible reputation in the village. He had bat wing, big horn on his head, a big mouth that could eat anything and his skin was as red as blood. He would come to the village and destroy the whole village when he got angry in any way.
| michaelfei-final.pdf |
Memories of Nagashino
by Richard
In the mountains of Japan, there was a small hut surrounded by a few trees which housed nobody but an old man who was stuck in bed with this strange sickness. He couldn’t move and all he could do was remember the past. Memories streamed slowly in his mind, like a slowly moving river through his childhood… adulthood, and that’s when he stopped. Something sparked inside him, a past he tried to forget, but that was impossible to do. He grimaced, and slowly closed his dark black eyes.
In the mountains of Japan, there was a small hut surrounded by a few trees which housed nobody but an old man who was stuck in bed with this strange sickness. He couldn’t move and all he could do was remember the past. Memories streamed slowly in his mind, like a slowly moving river through his childhood… adulthood, and that’s when he stopped. Something sparked inside him, a past he tried to forget, but that was impossible to do. He grimaced, and slowly closed his dark black eyes.
| richardchen-final.pdf |
Traveling North
by Stacey
Selena sat in her father’s car quietly. Her thoughts swirled around in her head, only a few days ago her father told her that he was moving her to Ireland, away from her best friends, her family, and her school; her father ran outside, “Ready to go Sel?” he asked cheerfully. “Hah, Yeeaah,” she said sarcastically. “Come on Selena, brighten up! He said flashing her a goofy grin. She scowled at her father, but couldn’t help, but laugh. “Alright let’s head out,” her father said. “Wait daddy, can we PLEASE! Stop at the hardware store?” she asked giving her father intense puppy-dog eyes. “Selena….” he said, by the look on his face she knew what the answer would be. “PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! DADDY!!!!” She yelled falling on her knees begging. “Alright! Alright! Goodness girl!” Selena’s father yelled giving up. “YAY!!” she said smiling brightly. Her father grimaced, but she paid no attention, she was seeing her boyfriend.
Selena sat in her father’s car quietly. Her thoughts swirled around in her head, only a few days ago her father told her that he was moving her to Ireland, away from her best friends, her family, and her school; her father ran outside, “Ready to go Sel?” he asked cheerfully. “Hah, Yeeaah,” she said sarcastically. “Come on Selena, brighten up! He said flashing her a goofy grin. She scowled at her father, but couldn’t help, but laugh. “Alright let’s head out,” her father said. “Wait daddy, can we PLEASE! Stop at the hardware store?” she asked giving her father intense puppy-dog eyes. “Selena….” he said, by the look on his face she knew what the answer would be. “PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! DADDY!!!!” She yelled falling on her knees begging. “Alright! Alright! Goodness girl!” Selena’s father yelled giving up. “YAY!!” she said smiling brightly. Her father grimaced, but she paid no attention, she was seeing her boyfriend.
| stacey_putnam_final.pdf |
A Family Lesson
There once was a family that always disagreed with each other, the children, Amy and Edward would try to get their parents to stop. But one time Mr. and Mrs. Holmes got in a huge fight and decided to separate. They thought they had too many differences. Mom was more serious and always dressed more formal, while Dad dressed casually and acted less serious. Mom loved to read as did Amy and Edward liked to watch sports with his Dad. Mom always thought Dad was a little lazy and thought he was beginning to influence Edward. So they split the children, Amy went with her Mom because she had more of a similar personality. Amy with her dark brown hair like her Mom always agreed with her, while Edward was more like his Dad with Blonde hair and a similar attitude. Amy and Edward always got along though ever since they were separated. Amy and Edward really missed each other.
| steven_chen_5final.pdf |