The Valentine's Day Dillemma- by Tara Gopalan

It was the morning of Valentine’s Day. As 6:00 AM approached, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and the streets were covered in grey sleet – a typical setting for romance stories. However perfect the day may have been, this story isn't your typical Valentine’s Day adventure. It’s instead a tale of revenge and bitterness turned to acceptance. It was in this story that a jack-o-lantern, a turkey, and a cup of hot chocolate who you may recognise from other tales were sitting and brooding on the windowsill of a small, lonely cottage. 

Pumpkin: It seems like so long ago that I was the hero of my story… I defeated a dentist, made friends with a tissue, and had a wonderful time. Where did my youthful days go? 

Turkey: Oh, please. You think you have it bad? We all have passed our glory days and are now doomed to rot on this windowsill until new decorations take our place in a year. 

Hot Chocolate *wailing*: I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY I’M HEREEE! *sob* What kind of creep keeps an empty cup of hot chocolate on their windowsill for months as a decoration?!

Pumpkin: A broke one. And to be honest, none of us are proper decorations anyways. I’m half rotten and attracting flies. Even though we have it bad, it’s good for us to see the positive side of things. In the last couple months, the flies and I have become buddies! See, that’s buzzy, flyifer, and insecty. Hey guys!

Hot Chocolate *Stops wailing*: …Is he…okay? Mentally?

Turkey: Oh, buddy. I think you know the answer to that. Sadly, there are no therapists willing to have rotten food as their clients. Also we can’t get jobs.

Hot Chocolate *Begins screaming even louder*: THE ECONOMY IS DOOMED- 

Turkey: Whoa, whoa there. Let’s not think about our inevitable doom and instead focus on our current issue: We’re going to be replaced.

*somber silence*

Pumpkin: Well, I knew that when I was getting bought. We can’t do anything about the course of nature! Everything rots eventually.

Turkey: Well, see, that’s where you’re wrong. The only reason we’re being neglected and left to rot is because new decorations are coming to town: Hearts, chocolates, frills, pink stuff, etc. But we can stop them from taking over this year…

Hot Chocolate *suddenly snaps to attention*: OOH! A heist. I like it. Carry on, tell us more…

Turkey: I found out who their leader is. The king of Valentine’s Day, the master of marketing, the heir to the throne of decorations!

Pumpkin: BABY CUPID?!

Turkey:...No, capitalism, stupid.

Pumpkin & Hot Chocolate: ……

Pumpkin: Turkey, don’t you think that’s a little…big? To dismantle capitalism we would have to completely uproot the economy!

Hot Chocolate: Yeah, why don’t we start a bit smaller. Who’s that guy, Valentine? Wasn’t he a saint or something?

Turkey *evil grin spreading across its face*: I can work with that… Now how do we stop this guy “Valentine” from replacing us with his hearts and flowers?

Pumpkin: Um, we could lure him here and nicely ask him to not tell the world that Valentine’s Day is coming?

Turkey: Pumpkin, you need to expand your mind a little bit. We’ve all learned that kindness doesn’t work on these leaders of holidays. Instead we could lure the saint here with candy hearts, trap him in a box, and then put that box in another box and mail that box to myself and when it arrives, I’LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER!

Hot Chocolate: Dude, it’s been 25 years since “The Emperor’s New Groove” came out. You need to get over your Disney obsession.

Turkey: I’m not- *deep breath* Okay. But my plan still works… Let’s put it into action. Now, here’s the plan…

Later that day

Turkey *whispering*: Let’s do this. Here, Saint Valentine…..

Saint Valentine: Ooh, a candy heart! I should collect these hearts that are in a suspiciously straight line leading to a shady alleyway because I have life skills! These pieces of candy can then be given to children so they’ll be happy. Oh, I love my job!

Pumpkin *whispering*: Aw, he’s so nice! Are you sure about this, Turkey? Maybe we should just accept being replaced!

Turkey *whispering*: It’ll all be worth it soon, just watch.

*Saint Valentine reaches the end of the candy heart trail and stands there. An Amazon delivery box suddenly drops over his head*

Saint Valentine: AAH! Whoever could have trapped me in this box? Please let me out, kind strangers. I’m sure you didn’t mean to trap me!

Turkey: My name is nobody!

Saint Valentine: Nice to meet you, Nobody, but I’ve read the Odyssey. 

Turkey: Ugh, way to ruin my reference. Either way, I’ve caught you! Now, we’ll only release you if you call off Valentine’s Day this year. Do it or be trapped forever!

Saint Valentine: Oh, but what about the children waiting for candy and the college students waiting for love?

Turkey: We all know you don’t find love as a college student. 

Saint Valentine:....

Pumpkin: Um, Mr. Valentine Sir? We seriously don’t want to be replaced. Please call off Valentine’s Day!

Saint Valentine: Little pumpkin, you know that even if you’re not replaced, you won’t make it until next year, right? Decorations are for one-time use only. I’m sorry that you have to go, but won’t it be better if you rot peacefully on your windowsill instead of here, acting out of jealousy?

Hot Chocolate: Wait….YOU KNOW WHERE WE LIVE?!

Saint Valentine: I’m a saint, I know a lot of things.  

Turkey: But…I’m scared of being replaced.

*all turn to look at him in shock*

Pumpkin: Wow, I didn’t know you were capable of feelings. 

Turkey: Yeah, I guess I lock them up inside because I don’t want to address them.

Hot Chocolate: Jeez, you need a therapist.

Saint Valentine *cutting in*: Oh! I have a degree in therapy!

All: WHAT?

Saint Valentine: Yeah, I used to be an ancient therapist before I got into this whole Saint thing. Hey, how about we make a deal? I’ll be your therapist and you let me carry on with my Valentine’s Day duties. How about that?

Turkey: Um...sure. That would be nice. 

Pumpkin: Yeah, you should accept the offer, Turkey. I’ve been trying to tell you that stopping Valentine’s Day won’t help. And anyways, you need serious therapy. Maybe a thousand year old saint can help!

Hot Chocolate: Yeah, we only want the best for you, buddy.

Turkey: Thanks guys. 

That night…

*thump*

Pumpkin: Hey guys. Our human really likes that girl huh? He even cleaned out the house for her.

Turkey: Yeah. I guess I’m happy for him, even if that means it was finally our time to go.

Hot Chocolate: Honestly, for his own safety, I’m glad I was thrown in this bin. No amount of washing can fix all this mold. 

Pumpkin: Yeah. At least we’re all still together. Hey, turkey? What did that saint tell you when you talked to him?

Turkey: He said… that it was ok to let go.

Pumpkin: I knew he was good. Well, before I fully rot, I wanted to say “Happy Valentine’s Day!” to you guys.

Hot Chocolate and Turkey: Happy Valentine’s Day!

The end

Cat Nap by Callie Rockmore

A Christmas Adventure by Tara Gopalan

It was 3:00 AM on Christmas Day, and nothing important was happening. At least, that’s how it seemed to the slumbering people living in a rickety old house in the middle of the woods. In the house, there was a small christmas tree and presents underneath: One for the oldest kid, five for the youngest, and none for the middle… who, to be completely honest, wasn’t considered a kid at all. 

A cup of steaming hot cocoa sat on a tray alongside some cookies near the tree. Now, as you all know, cookies don’t make good roommates. That’s exactly how the cocoa, and frankly all the decorations, felt. 

Cocoa: Stop looking at me like that.

Cookie #1: Like what?! You know inanimate objects don’t have eyes.

Cocoa: But we have mouths?

Cookie #1: …we don’t talk about that. And anyways, why be existential when we’re going to be eaten anyways? After all, destiny is just the way the cookie crumbles…

Cookie #2 (Jerald): WHO’S CRUMBLING?!

All: Nobody, Jerald.

Tree Star: Guys, quiet down. If the people find out we can talk, they’re going to tell Santa…

Cocoa: …so nobody told him Santa isn't real?

*awkward silence*

Cookie #1: Okay, buddy, here’s the deal: Santa is a marketing scheme that companies came up with to promote extra buying during the holiday season, and that reflects on our capitalist socie-

Cocoa: WHOA, slow down! Let him live his little fantasies!

Tree Star: a marketing what-now?

Cocoa: Never mind that! Even though you ruin everything, at least refrain from ruining the Christmas spirit!!!

Cookie #1: HAH, what Christmas spirit? 

Cocoa: The spirit of love and joy!

Cookie #1: Honestly at this point, what’s Christmas even about? Spending money on delusional tree decorations?

Tree Star: HEY!!! I’m not delusional, I'm just more special than the rest of you!

Cookie #1: Point proven. 

Cocoa: Okay, but seriously: when you think of Christmas, don’t you think of a nice, comforting cup of hot cocoa?

Cookie #1: …no. You’re a horrible roommate.

Cocoa: I meant if you were a human. Sitting down, drinking hot chocolate, caroling on Christmas morning as you receive gifts!

Cookie: I’m not even going to think about the implications of food eating food. The only thing I get for Christmas is to be eaten by a random stranger in a red suit.

Cocoa: Wait…. SANTA IS REAL?!

Cookie #2 (Jerald): Who Santa where?

Cookie #1 and Cocoa: NOBODY!

Cocoa (whispering): so really: what’s the deal with Santa?

Cookie #1 (Whispering): I’ve heard that Santa has an elaborate heist this year. He’s planning on giving all children coal in their stockings when breaking into houses. Apparently it’s cheaper than presents, and he’ll use the sadness of the children to power his factories in the North Pole…

Cocoa (Whispering): Where did you hear this?!

Cookie #1(Whispering): Just some old friends. Just wait. There’ll be a sound in 3…2….1….

Just then, the entire house seemed to creak. Protruding from the ceiling were two giant footprints…

Tree Star, Cookie #1, Cocoa: AAH!

Cookie #1: Everyone be quiet! Santa can’t know we can talk.

Cocoa: But what are we going to do? The kids made us with such care. We can’t let them be heartbroken when they see the coal!

Cookie #2 (Jerald): I have an idea.

Cocoa, Cookie #1, Tree Star: You can talk?!!

Cookie #2(Jerald): I prefer to save my genius for emergencies like this.

Cocoa: Wow, plot twist. What’s your plan?

Cookie #2 (Jerald): Everyone, gather around….

A few minutes later

*Crack THUMP!*

Cookie #2 (Jerald): Everyone in their places?

Cocoa: Yup!

Santa: WHO’S TALKING? SHOW YOURSELF.

*silence*

Santa: Well then, where are the children’s stockings…

Cookie #1: Oh Santaaaaaaa….

Santa: WHO’S TALKING?!

Cookie #1: Santa, this is your conscience… you’re very hungry.

Santa: Wha- no I’m not! I’m here to ruin these kids’ childhoods, not have a snack…

Cocoa: Oh, but Santa! Your hunger overwhelms you. It eats at you. There are some crumbly, gooey cookies and a steaming cup of hot cocoa on the table….aren’t you tempted?

Santa: Well, yeah, conscience. Mrs. Claus denied me dinner for supposedly “Ruining Christmas”, so I really am hungry. But I shouldn’t! The doctor told me about my allergy-

Cookie #2 (Jerald) (Whispering): Tree Star, now!

Tree Star: Gotcha. *Shines a beam of light onto the food temptingly*

Cocoa: Oh, Santa, a little bite won’t hurt…

Santa: Okay, okay. Conscience is always right. *takes a sip*

Santa: Oh, OH NO OH NO!! Not… WHOLE MILK!

Cocoa: Take that, Santa! Your lactose intolerance will be YOUR DOOM!

Cookie #1 (laughing uncontrollably): HAHAH-ha! And I ate a whole stick of salted butter! You’re doomed, buddy!

Cookie #2: *Whistles* Come on, reindeer! Do you smell… CARROTS?

WIth that,  a dozen reindeer popped out of the chimney and began devouring the carrots, which happened to be right under the suffering Santa. They carried him out the door and into the early morning light.

Santa: Curse you, conscience! You know I have a sweet toothhhh!!!

His voice faded away and disappeared.

Cocoa: Well that was fun. Thanks, Jerald.

Cookie #2 (Jerald): No problem. It was fun to see justice be served. Now… I think I’m going to take a little nap…

Cookie #1: Jerald, no!!! Don’t become dumb again!

*snoring*

Cocoa: Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.

Tree Star: *snicker* That idiot really thought it was his conscience! Honestly, he’s giving himself too much credit- I doubt he has enough brains to have a thought process. 

Cookie #1: Hah, honestly. 

Cocoa: I never want to do that again. Being drank out of is fine, but by Santa? Ew.

Tree Star: I have to admit, you guys are kind of awesome. Almost as awesome as me.

Cocoa: I guess that’s the best compliment we’re going to get. Hey, I hear noise on the stairs!

Cookie #1: Merry Christmas. I suppose that we should go back to being food.

Cocoa: Yeah, but at least we defeated Santa. Goodbye, everyone! This was quite the Christmas adventure. 

Five Good Books by Kadance Delahanty

These are some books that I’ve read and think would be good books to read. 

1. The One and Only Ivan

This book is about a gorilla in a circus at the mall. It's in the perspective of Ivan. A new elephant named Ruby comes and Stella, another elephant, takes care of her. It is a sad book, but with a happy ending. 

2. The School for Good and Evil

This book is about two girls who are best friends, Agatha and Sophie. Sophie treats their friendship like her just doing a good deed. Every year two teens get taken by something, a monster. This year it's Agatha and Sophie. All these kids are taken to a school for good and evil. This school teaches them how to become good and evil to have their own fairytales. When they get taken Sophie and Agatha are both expecting for Sophie to be good and Agatha to be evil. BUT it turns out to be the opposite. Read to find out how it ends. 

3. Tuesday at the Castle 

This book is about Celie trying to find her parents. Castle Glower every Tuesday grows a new room, turret, or whole wing. Celie has been trying to map castle flowers. When her parents disappear and the counselors from neighboring countries try to advise them, - even the castle knows something is wrong. When a tower room that is full of random objects appears when Celie needs it and a secret passageway appears that the councilors don't want them to know about. This is a page turning story that you might not be able to put down. Read to find out more. 

4. Flunked

This is a story about Gilly the daughter of a shoemaker in the kingdom of Enchantasia. Gilly has five brothers and sisters and lives in a run down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly’s a pretty good thief. Until she got caught. She was sent to FTRS (Fairy Tale Reform School). The teachers are former villains. She meets Kayla and Jax, they become good friends. But there is something weird going on. There is a battle brewing and Gilly wonders how good these bad guys are. Read the book to find out what happens to Gilly and her friends.

5. Liars Society

Weatherby is a normal girl that likes to sail. Her and Skip enter a sailing competition, no one expects them to win. But they end up winning anyway. Afterwards, a teacher from the prestigious school, named Boston, comes up and invites Weatherby to come on scholarship. Later, when she is taking down her sails she figures out that her sails weren’t the right size. She cheated….

Every member of Jack's wealthy and privileged family. His family is legacy at the Boston school. Most of Jack's family is a part of a secret society named Last Heir. He really wants to impress his father. But Jack has a secret of his own… one that could ruin everything.

When the money for the Hart Isle field trip is stolen, Jack and Weatherby and a couple others get chosen to play a high stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, They’ll be selected to join the oldest, very powerful secret society in the world - If they lose.. Well they better not lose or maybe their secrets aren’t very safe. To find out more read The Liars Society. 

A Turkey's Story By Tara Gopalan

A Turkey's Story 

By Tara Gopalan

One fateful night before Thanksgiving, A turkey and a pumpkin enjoyed their last night alive and sang their worries away on a farm. 

“IIIIII DON”T WANNA DIEEEEEEEEE, and so I’m SINGINGGGGGG an improv songgggggg!”

“You really need to work on your singing skills, turkey” the Pumpkin said. 

“Hey, you don’t get to talk. You’re not the one who has to SUFFER a TERRIBLE fate tomorrow at the hands of weird, featherless beasts!!”

“Honestly, tone down the drama. I just watched my whole family get decapitated and made into Jack-o-lanterns, and I’m fine.”

“As your temporary therapist, I doubt that,”  the Turkey smirked.

“Don’t pretend like you’re ok too. I know how stressful it must be to know your day of death.”

“You would, wouldn’t you? It’s a real pressure cooker out there. I honestly hoped it wouldn’t be me this year, but the farmer said I’d gained enough weight to be eaten.”

“I didn’t know farmers were authorized to body-shame animals, but whatever. You got another song?” the Pumpkin asked.

“No. All I can think about is the terror that awaits me…OH WOE IS ME!!”

“Buddy, the less you think, the better. All we can hope is that you aren’t mixed with peas.”

“PEAS?! The despicable things!! Oh, now you’re just making me worry more. Great job.”

“You know, in a way, isn't it nice to have a purpose? To know when your life will end so you treasure it more?”

“Oh, cut it out,” the Turkey snapped.  “Nobody likes existential produce, especially not the farmers.”

“That’s kind of the point.”

“Hm. Either way, who do you reckon will get taken away first? Me or you?”

“Oh, I bet my seeds that it’ll be you. Who doesn’t like a plump turkey?”

“First of all, you didn’t have to phrase it like that. Second of all, what about vegetarians?”

“Buddy, we’re in America,” Pumpkin said.  There’s no such thing as people who hate meat.”

“I’m not going to point out how wrong that is. Anyways, I take so much work to prepare! Wouldn’t it be so much easier to just cut the biggest, juiciest pumpkin in the field and bake it for Thanksgiving?”

“EW, okay, I see what you mean. Less description please. But still, Turkey has been a staple for generations!” 

“OH, I beg to differ. I bet my tail feathers that they’ll look at my intimidating face and run right away!” 

The Pumpkin asked, “How many tail feathers are we talking?”

“Idk, 3. That’s not the point!”

“Yeah, you’re not intimidating. What are you going to do, cluck at them? Oh no, chubby flightless bird! Whatever will I do!” 

“HEY you don’t get to comment on my weight.”

“Just taking after the farmer.”

“But pumpkin is so good, especially with rice! It’s good for feeding many people too. I bet they’ll want you instead.”

“...you’ve eaten pumpkin…?!?!?”

“Duh, they feed me food scraps! Many of which were pumpkin.”

“That’s disturbing. I AM NO SUCH SCRAP.”

“Yeah, right. Hey, I just got another idea for a song!”

“Oh boy…”

The Turkey sang loudly, “OHHHHHHHHHHH who’s going to be eaten most likely by me? THIS HERE PUMPKIN! La la la la la la la la la la laaaa…”

“Dude, you can’t plagiarize off of Spongebob,” the Pumpkin remarked.

“I just did.”

*Human voices* “Hey, look at that turkey! So big. OOH and that juicy pumpkin!”

“I’M NOT THAT BIG-” the Pumpkin pleaded.

“Aw, but it’s too loud. Leave it.”

“Oh, man! Thank goodness,” the Pumpkin sighed. “But you’re in trouble, dude!!”

“What about that pumpkin?” the first human asked. 

“Nah, pumpkins taste weird,”  frowned the second human.  

The Turkey asked, “Wait, then who’s going to be chosen?”

*LOUD SCREAM*

“Oh, they chose cousin Jerry?” the Turkey asked, shocked.  “The drama king. Welp, I never liked him anyways.”

“At least it’s not us,” the Pumpkin sighed. “Happy Thanksgiving, Turkey.”

“Merry Thanksgiving, Pumpkin,  and a happy New Year!”

“....sure.”

The two sat, sacrificed apples, and chatted until daylight. This is your reminder to get humanely sourced Turkey this Thanksgiving! 

One Man by Linden Dolezal

One man

That’s how all of this madness started

It started thanks to one man

And now husbands, sons, and fathers alike

Fight; and die upon these sands

Thanks to one man, millions are dead

Thanks to one man, the World Trade Center is destroyed, 

never to be rebuilt

Thanks to one man, some may never have a true home again

Some may have permanent scars; reminders of that horrible day

Some, like us, may never return home at all

The battle rages around me

Sand flying up everywhere

We are fighting in the street

Of an ordinary neighborhood

I can see the residents fleeing over the hills

Away from all this madness-

A bullet hits me in the chest

I am thrown to the ground, 

my head connecting painfully with the sands

Blood drips down my chest, 

more on my face, 

as I gasp heavily

I still can’t believe that this all happened 

because of 

one man

A man who is already dead!

A man who has been destroyed; 

yet the battle still rages

In front of me 

and in the minds of others

I look around, 

At my military family

At the brothers, fathers, and sons

Who will never be the same

I am fighting for breath now,

The pain in my chest getting worse

I squeeze my eyes shut, 

thinking of the 

one man 

who is responsible for this

I can almost picture his face in my mind

The reason that my family has lost a brother, a father, and a son

The cause of all this death

The man who started this bloody war

The man who caused 9/11

Osama Bin Laden

Tales of Halloween By Tara Gopalan

This article is less about conspiracies and more about me coming up with nice, little backstories for Halloween elements. This will be mostly fluff: a pumpkin’s sob story, a ghost feeling lonely, and children wearing costumes to hide from the secret society who wants them to have dental hygiene. Normal stuff! Let’s begin!

Twas the night of halloween . . . and nothing eventful was happening. A tired pumpkin sat on the doorstep of a random house (he’d just undergone brain surgery), rotting away slowly and contemplating life. A ghost was sobbing into himself (there were no tissues around) after having been called a “decoration”, and some children were inside the house, getting ready for the big night. 

“We’re, like, 20. Aren’t we too old to go trick-or-treating?”

“WHAT? No you’re not! Your job is to go around and scare the children who come here. “

“Dude, that’s unethical… and AMAZING! Let’s do it.”

“Guys, shouldn’t we be… responsible? I have a dentist appointment at 8.”

“OH, GOOD ONE! US, RESPONSIBLE? BWHAHAHAHHAHAHHH! You of all people should know that we haven’t matured since 8th grade.”

“....fine. But let’s at least leave before the fun is over. The best kids to scare are the ones who go out at 7 pm so they don’t miss bedtime. Let’s go!” 

The decorations watched as the group left the house and slammed the door behind them. The pumpkin sighed and attempted to frown with his fleshless face.

“That one kid was right. They’re too old for this! They could at least show some respect for us decorations.”

At the mention of the word “decoration,” the ghost burst into a fresh round of sobs. 

“You *sob* don’t get to complain! *sniffle*. I’ve been at this house for decades, reused again and again, always disregarded! You’re new here. You wouldn’t understand my FATE!!!!”

“Hey, I’ve been through my fair share of stuff! Have you SEEN the pumpkin processing facility at Walmart? It’s just an underpaid grandma with a carving knife! I’m traumatized more than you’ve ever been. I went to an adoption facility made out of cardboard, and was the last one chosen! Even then, the man who chose me had the most HORRENDOUS name. Mr. SnickerHersheyCottonCandy?! Who hates their child enough to name them that?! I made a daring escape across the sidewalk to come here and change my life, and you discount that?!” 

“Huh. I guess you aren’t so soft after all.”

“No, I’m actually super squishy.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

*awkward silence*

“Anyways, you haven’t heard my story. It’s a tragic one, FULL OF WOE!!”

“Dude, what are you, shakespeare? Just get on with it.”

“How did you know?! I used to write fabulous plays, but after I died, I was cursed to live as this weird tissue thing! Honestly, humans have such strange ideas when it comes to the supernatural. Anyways, I remember the first time I was taken out of my tissue box home, and repurposed into a ghost! My owner used to hang me on the ceiling as he worked. He was a candy chemist, you know. He had this lab, and all these vials full of weird things. He had green and purple string lights hung all around the sugar-filled room, which I think made him feel cool? Idk.”

“That sounds a lot like an evil lair…”

“What? The Halloween spirit must be getting to you. He was just a normal guy who made things in vials, cackled maniacally when he finished, and went on long monologues about how all the children would be writhing in pain for days with his new inventions! Such a gentleman.”

“Umm I don’t think that’s normal. How did you escape?”

“Oh, he got tired of me after a while and threw me on the ground. I journeyed through the air and landed on the doorframe of this house full of irresponsible adults! Now I’m here.”

“That’s… good for you, buddy. Let’s listen to the radio and see how our adult-children are doing.”

*crackle* Hello, people! Halloween is a time of frights and delights, and also teenagers on sugar highs! Watch out. This year, a mysterious thing has occurred: a mysterious man has been giving children more and more sugar, ruining their dental hygiene! Watch out, parents, and make sure your child doesn’t get affected. Happy Halloween! *crackle*

“In all my one year of life, I haven’t seen anything like this. Who would spend their Halloween doing something stupid like that…?”

*DING-dong*

*The adults are sprawled on the ground, surrounded by candy as a dark figure stands amidst the bodies*

“MR SNICKERHERSHEYCOTTONCANDY?!”

“OWNER?!”

“YES, It is I, Mr. SnickerHersheyCottonCandy the middle-aged depressed mad-scientist DENTIST! MWHAHAHAHAH!”

“But… you chose me! You cared for me! Why would you hurt the people I love?”

“I KNEW YOU WERE A PSYCHOPATH!”

“You misunderstand… My evil plan is to ruin all children’s dental hygiene so that they’ll come to me for treatment! With all that money, I’ll be rich!  All the other producers bow down to me. After all, I invented cotton candy in my evil lair, founded Hershey, and created Snickers!!”

“I TOLD you it was an evil lair.”

“Shush. Hey, ex-owner, are you done with your monologue? I would be bored to death, but I’m already dead.”

“Aren’t you… scared or something? Your friends are on the ground after a sugar high, and you’re completely calm? Jeez.”

“Well, since I’m a pumpkin, I can communicate with all food. GET ‘EM, BOYS!!

*A swarm  of candy engulfs the dentist, sweeping into the sky in a cloud of dust*

“Bye-bye, loser.”

“HEY! You didn’t tell me you could do that! I could have added it to one of my plays.”

“Eh, perks of being a decapitated pumpkin.”

(groggily) “Ugh… What happened to us?”

“You guys ate too much candy, that’s what. C’mon. Let’s go inside and study for the SATS.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

Moral: Standardized testing is the scariest trick of all. 

Outcast: Escape from Natoxia by Linden Dolezal

Firestarter by Olive Hollis

“ OUI!!!! “ shouted the angry salesman behind the stand as I took an apple from his cart. “And what do you think you’re doin’ there? Uh?”

I say nothing at first thinking of something to say

“ I’m waiting for an answer here boy.”

“Hmmmm?” I ask slyly, “What do you think I’m doing?”

“I think you're trying to rob me blind here son, but I’ve got eyes in the back of me head!”

“Okay so if you turn around and hold up a hand full of fingers can you tell me how many I’m holding up?”

And I know I have him there as his face turns a bright red and the shopkeeper turned away ashamed that he got outsmarted by a kid. Especially me. Carl Mcallister. Known all throughout the town as the trickster who lives and the bar. I might not have a place to call home but the bar is open all night and has some beds for travelers along the walls that I use. Plus the bartenders and waitresses understand my problem and are super nice to me most of the time. And one of the waiters there, Mark, will sometimes give me some of the tips he gets from the customers. At first though I didn’t dare take his tips from him seeing as he had to work hard to deal with the really mean customers we sometimes get around the shop. But only after I realized that I was running out of money did I start to accept them from him. As I walk from the cart of apples with the still flustered cart owner I toss the apple up in the air, catching it in one hand with a quick little swish-swash through the air making a quiet noise. As my hand makes contact with the apple I hear a huge commotion behind me and as I whip my head around to see what the big fuss was about. As I turn my head my eyes instantly settle on the bright flame dancing on top of the hay roof of the building next to what I call home. I rush over to the burning building, the apple…once in my hand…is now completely forgotten about lying alone on the gravel sidewalk.

I can smell the smoke as I run towards the bar to see if the fire has spread or if I could find anyone in there to tell me more about what was going on.  You’re so stupid of course no one is going to be in the bar. The building next to it is on fire! But my legs keep carrying me at full speed. The doors swing open at a large shove from my arms and I’m filled with relief  that nothing is on fire. Yet says the voice in my head, but I can’t hear anything over the loud pounding of my heart and shaking in my breath. I rush over to where Mark is standing in less than a second. “Mark! What in the holy pigeon are you doing just standing there? The building to the right of here is almost a pie of ash! Move it!” To my horror Mark turns with tears in his eyes and says in barely a whisper “I can’t go. I just can’t” 

“W-w-what,” I stammer “what do you mean you can’t leave? Mark, you have to go now!” But no matter how much I said we had to leave Mark just stood there as if I had been saying nothing the entire time. “You. Don’t. Get it. I. Can’t. Leave. No matter what happens.”

“This really isn’t funny anymore Mark” I yell over the now roaring inferno around me. Thick, black smoke fills the room almost as fast as it fills my lungs, making me choke as my eyes start to tear up. 

“Look kid, this was fun, really it was but I can’t go with you. Now go before you choke!” As Mark grabs my shoulders I can’t fight against him because I. Can’t. Breathe.

 We’re almost to the door as I swing around so he goes out the door frame at the same time I do. As I fall out of the door I watch as his arms start to burn as it hits the threshold of the door. He looks down at his hands and stumbles back into the smoke with a mix of fear and resolution in his eyes.

 I watch in horror as he stumbles back into the smoke and disappears…just a silhouette. I feel hands on my shoulders pulling me back away from the big blaze that was my home from someone in the growing crowd. I don’t feel them or the sting of fresh air hitting my lungs or the feeling of the gravel under my hands and knees. I feel empty and alone not knowing where I would go tonight, who I would be with, or what I’m going to do at all. And then it hits me.

I’m alone.

There is no one in the world with me.

No one.

It was only Mark.

And now even he’s gone.

Rating Children’s Books by Callie Rockmore

So, children's books, right? I bet you don't have a big opinion on books for children ages 5 and below, do you? Well I DO, so we're going to be rating 15 children’s books I've actually read. Let's get into that from the worst to the best.

15. The Giving Tree 

Oh, how I HATE this book. In my opinion this has to be a hot take, because I have heard so many people praising this book, and well I just flat out hate it. Like I might be biased because I hate the idea. I get children take from parents, but JEEZ.  I wouldn't make my parents die for my own gain. What kid do you know that would do that!? I don't mean to be mean, Shel Silverstein, don't get me wrong - your work is amazing, but I think you just don't like kids, especially since you're writing a book about how greedy children are. But that's just my thoughts on this book that I hate. I would rather watch The Z-O-M-B-I-E-S cartoon for 5 hours straight than read this 5 times straight. -10/10

14. We're Going On a Bear Hunt

I personally thought it was okay the first time I read this book.  I liked the ending, but after years of reading this book for like 1 HOUR a day, I'm tired, please. I don't want to be singing "We can't go under it, we can't go over it. Oh no! We have to go through it!" If you want to go over it SO BADLY, just buy a private jet for my sake! Or if you want to go under it, dig! I'm sorry to either suck it up or stop complaining.  2/10

13.  Where the Wild Things Are  

Wow, this one I like mostly for the art, but as a kid I didn't understand what it was about. I understand now and I just feel bad for this kid's parents. So picture this: your son storms off from dinner and when you go up to talk to him, he's just gone. Meanwhile he's just partying with monsters that would most likely eat him if they knew he was human, so I say we sign a petition to make that kid stay with those monsters until he learns his lesson. That's all I really have to say about this book. It's not the best but it's fine. I like the art, though. 3.5/10

12.  Snowy Day 

I love the graphics and the story, so honestly there's nothing really bad about this one, it just it makes me jealous, so you're not going high on this list at all! I WISH YOU LIVED IN CALIFORNIA!! 4.5/10

11. Goodnight Moon 

I love Goodnight Moon more than the next person, so  don't get me wrong. But it's kind of repetitive, and honestly that's fine, I  just like more excitement in my books.  I would of put it higher, and I honestly feel bad for putting this that low, it’s  just it has some really good competition. This book is a part of my childhood and the only bad thing about this book is that it's just flat out kind of boring. Other than that, perfecto. 4.9/10

10. Chika Chika Boom Boom 

This is a classic that always made learning fun, but wasn't repeated over and over like how number 14 was. To be honest, I loved this book when I was younger, but I just don't read it now Not much to say, other than this is a solid 5/10.

9. Green Eggs and Ham 

This is a good book. I love all the rhyme designs and it's a classic, too! I love this book and its cartoons are surprisingly good, in my opinion. The premise is nice:  trying to get someone to try something you love to see if they love it too, and I find the lengths Sam takes to make the other guy eat green eggs and ham just mwah, chef’s kiss. But Sam is a little intense, you know. Just a little, though. 6/10

8. Harold and the Purple Crayon 

Before I get into this one, imagine how overpowered that crayon would be in war. Anyways, this book was great to be honest, but also shouldn't he be in more danger? In the first couple pages, he falls but he draws a balloon to save himself? For creativity, I give it a 10/10. For the book as a whole, a solid 6.5/10

7. Corduroy

 This book made me cry when I was younger. The art style was amazing and the story was great! The ending is so wholesome. If you’ve never read this, you’ve had no childhood, and it's clear when you're older you're going to work in a depressing office. 7.5/10

6. The Cat in the Hat  

Why does the Cat in the Hat seem like a villain? If I phrase it like this: "A cat in a hat breaks into kids' homes, releases minions that he keeps in a box to trash the house, and then he gets rid of the evidence by making the kids clean up the mess. Oh, yeah:  NO ONE will believe what happened."  He sounds so much like a villain. Anyways this book was a good classic, and its rhymes are very good too.  So a solid 7.9/10

5.  No David

I knew we all thought this was funny when  we were younger (well, at least I did!), but David is a MENACE to society. I swear when he grows up, he's going to be a wanted war criminal. Overall this book is funny, but you should put your kid up for adoption Mrs. Sharon! 8/10

4.  The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

 Such a classic! This was literally the book of my childhood. I mean,  I was in a play about it in kindergarten. I think I was one of the deserts, I don’t know, it's been a while. So this book means a lot to me, and that’s why it's this high 8.5/10

3. Elephant and Piggie 

I'm not just talking about one book, I'm talking about all of them! These books make kids learn life lessons in a fun way, and you can relate to the characters. This best 2nd-grade-and-under series changed my mind. 8.9/10

2. Can the Pigeon Drive the Bus? 

SO GOOD! It’s a classic! It’s funny, relatable (because I want to drive a bus right now, even though I'm under age), and just great in general, but especially the parts where the pigeon goes crazy mad! Overall 9.5/10

1. Officer Buckle and Gloria 

This book is the image of perfection. It has a 4.8 score out of 5 on Amazon. This book is perfect. It takes itself seriously, but not too seriously.  I'm not going to spoil too much if you haven't read this book, but I love the kid’s drawing and the character design, and how everything goes into shambles at the end without Officer Buckle. This book is awesome you should go read it also I WASN'T ASKING! READ IT NOW! 10/10!! 

Tackling Writer’s Block by Tara Gopalan

We’ve all had writer’s block at some point in our lives, and it can be particularly inconvenient when we have a tight schedule in which to write. A lot of writers say that you just have to let the idea be, or go do something you enjoy, but I know you’ve heard those suggestions way too many times. Often, they don’t even work: everybody’s different. Keeping this in mind, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to overcome writer’s block.  

Step 1: Get out your writing pad or computer. I mean right now! The hardest part of overcoming writer’s block is actually starting the process of writing. No, don’t tell me you’ll do it later, because I know you won’t: bear with me here.

Step 2: Go over what happened in your life today in your mind. Even if nothing interesting happened, just think it over. Maybe you were in math class today and encountered a really hard problem, or you stayed home and watched cat videos on youtube. If nothing comes to mind, then think about how you’re feeling right now: are you tired, hopeful, ready for the year to end? Think about that and hold on to that thought.

Step 3: Turn one of the events or emotions you felt today into a topic! If you had math class today and you feel tired, you can write about how math class gives too much work. Watching cat videos is a topic in itself! You can write about how cats are good pets, about your favorite type of cat, or the feelings cat videos create within you. 

Step 4: You now have some choices. Do you want to write something serious in essay format? Something creative…like fanfiction?  Or something complex…like poetry? An easy way to make this choice is to think about how you want to tell the story. Creatively? Try fanfiction or short stories! Argumentatively? Try opinion pieces. Expressively? Try poetry. 

Step 5: You didn’t think you would make it this far, did you? You’re almost ready to start writing! After choosing what you want to write, think about how you want to write it. Get your favorite book and notice the ways in which the author draws your attention. Maybe they add jokes, purposely misspell things, are super serious, or write it in an overly exaggerated British accent. Bring back your topic and chosen writing style, then try and write the first few sentences. Loosely structure them off of some sentences in your book, and continue like that until you have a couple sentences.

Step 6: Dump all the stuff you can think of about your topic from your brain onto the paper! Just keep typing, even if the writing is horrible- you can edit it later. Write about those cat videos! Scream about all that math homework! Just get some words down on the paper.

Step 7: You just realize what you’ve done right? You’ve overcome writers’ block! Good job and happy writing. 

Four More Book Recommendations by Madison Mikita

With summer quickly approaching, it’s a great time to gather a list of books to read over the break. With that being said, here is a list of some of my favorite books. I hope you enjoy!

1. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

A dystopian novel based in a post-apocalyptic world after a deadly flu sweeps the globe. It follows a variety of characters as their lives intertwine and change. It may be a bit dark for young readers but is a beautiful story of regret, change, and survival. 

2. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

A memoir about the work of Byran Stevenson, a civil rights lawyer, as he fights to bring justice to those wrongfully convicted. This book focuses mainly on the case of Walter McMillian, but it also includes stories of other cases Stevenson has worked on. Just Mercy is inspiring, infuriating, and a great story for middle schoolers. 

3. Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

An interesting and fast-paced story told in reverse. Jule takes on her dead best friend’s identity and flees from those who know too much. The only question is… why is she doing all this? And what secret is she hiding? 

4. Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Six teenagers are in an RV heading to Gulf Shores for spring break. But after a couple of wrong turns, they find themselves on an abandoned road, with no cell service, four punctured tires, and a shooter waiting in the dark. Secrets come out, friendships are tarnished, and only five survive. 

Legends from the World of Dragons 2 by Sydney Duncan

Prologue 

“If you don’t know from before you will know now, my name is Lightning. And like last time the kids may or may not stop a legend. But you’ll hear that part of the story later right the legend stopping later right now… Wait a second, are you human? FOR THE LAST TIME HUMANS SHOULD NOT BE READING ANY OF THESE BOOKS!!! 

Ah that's better because these are Dragon eyes only secrets. Secrets that a human should never see unless perhaps they’re one of the legendary Dragon Riders. Because only if you’re a Dragon Rider then you can see the Dragon Secrets.

 But enough of me ranting, let’s just tell the story.”

It all started when one of our new human friends found something a few moons back. An odd shaped thing was found on the beaches but we still don’t know what it is but it looks like it could fit multiple dragons in it.  

Starfire was the one who found it and the kids and their dragon riders have been trying to open it ever since. I worry for what will happen if they finally do. 

But I’ve got a feeling in my tail that when they do it will lead to bad things. 

“Click!” I heard in the middle of the night.

 “Who’s there?” I called into the night. 

“Pop!” I heard next.

“Hmm,” I thought to myself, “That sounded like a lid coming off, WAIT A MINUTE THAT THING THAT WE FOUND HAD A LID ON IT.”

“AMBER, BIRDE, GOLDEN, BRIX WHERE ARE YOU?!!!” I called loudly, so loudly that I woke up all of the others.

 “Huh, what’s going on?” Midnight asked. 

“I heard the sound of a lid popping and remembered that the kids were trying to open the thing.”  I told her. 

“Oh- no!” she exclaimed, “We have to get to them. Now.” 

“Well then, let’s go,” I said.

We flew down the treehouse where they said they were going to be. But they were gone. Midnight, Vulcan, Aquawaters, and I flew down to the beaches where there were shadows. When we got there the kids and four humans, the ones that are called Trout, Ember, Sliver, and Falcon. We found them just as they were all enveloped in eerie, glowing white light.

“KIDS!!!” We all yelled, but when we made it down there the truth hit us in the face, they were gone.We stood there in shock wondering where they had gone, or if they would ever come back.

Chapter 1

 The Humans

Birde, Golden, Brix, and I  walked through the human cave trying to separate good from bad, predator from prey, killer from innocent, Dragon Rider from Inventor. The Dragon Riders were humans with bond dragons. The bond dragons were only dragons who’s soul matches a human most commonly, but there have been some special cases and some dragons even have more than one bonded partner. But one thing is for certain no creature has ever been bonded to one of the same species it is believed to be impossible.

All of the humans who were standing where we entered had been trying to get out before, but as soon as we came they stood up, weapons at the ready. We walked through the cave, as they stared at us. Then we came to the Dragon Rider side of the cave, you could tell the difference right away, for example this side was much neater, and when we walked in they didn’t hold weapons to our wings. 

We were letting the Dragon Riders out again, then next year we would let the Inventors out, because it will have been exactly 191 years since they had last seen the sun. But for now we are just letting the Dragon Riders out. Halfway through this year we would let out the Impartals, who didn't care about what we or the two human sides did, they only wanted to live their lives in peace. 

When we were on the other side of the cave we blasted a hole through the wall then ushered the humans through. When they were all through we blasted the top of the cave sealing the others in.

 Four of the humans who looked like kids ran past us and out to freedom. They were so eager that you’d think that they’d never had fresh air… oh… well I guess they have never had freedom.

Anyway after we got all the ones who were supposed to be out, we had to go to school. I don’t know why we still have to do this. Didn’’t we save the world like last year? But oh well, I guess some things will never change. 

I started padding over to a good launch place when suddenly Brix ran past me yelling “TIME FOR SCHOOL!! TIME FOR SCHOOL!!!”

 Yep some things will never change.

Chapter 2

As I walked into school Brix dropped down from the ceiling onto me and told me that he was getting revenge, but then he realized that I wasn’t Birde and got off me.

“Seriously. You’re still holding a grudge against Birde, it was a year ago and it was one time. Get over it!” I shouted, “But you know at least I’m second place.”

“Really,” he said, “You yell all of that and then you say at least I'm in second place-”

“Do you have a problem with that?” I said cutting him off.

“No, I was just saying,” he replied.

“Oh, look here come the others, just like last time. Do you think that we will be exactly one second early again?” I asked.

“Maybe, this does feel just like last time. Except, you know the humans running around,” he answered.

Just as I was about to reply, Golden and Birde flew straight into us.

“Ow,” I said as I bucked them off of me. “Wasn’t Brix sitting on me enough.”

“Sorry,” they all replied at once.

We plodded into school and jumped in surprise as Valcan told us that even though we were one second early, class was canceled.

 As we walked back out, we ran into the same human kids that ran past us before. It looked like they were playing tag. So, we did what any reasonable person would do when tagged by a human, we chased after them. When we had just caught up we introduced ourselves and then startled as we had seen a capsule thing. We had the humans jump on our backs and we flew towards the center of the town, because we figured that if the humans and other dragons were anywhere, they would be there. We landed next to the lake memorial and immediately spotted our parents. We walked over there with Ember holding the capsule. Before we could get to them Aquawaters, Valcan, and Midnight walked away to deal with their humans. 

 We ran up to Lightning before he could go deal with something else. When we got up to him we said, “Gather the others. We need to tell them something.” And so we told them what we had found and about our humans.  They told us to give the capsule to them. Of course they're typical adults.So, we said to let us do so that way the kids could actually do something for once. 

We flew back to the treehouse and began to try to open it. Many hours later the parents came by to ask us if we wanted dinner, we looked up and asked how long we had been trying to open the capsule. 

“Long enough,” Lightning replied, “So, do you kids want dinner or not?”

“Ok,” I replied,

“May we have dinner?” Golden asked.

Chapter 3

Soon after, at midnight (not the dragon), ok well I guess that’s not so soon after as I thought. But anyway after dinner we had tried to open the capsule and at midnight we finally had done it.

After we opened the capsule we saw the parents as they flew towards us, we saw them yelling, but we couldn’t hear anything. A few seconds later we were enveloped in a white light, it had become hard to move, finally we evaporated then got sucked through a portal to a place that humans ruled.

******************

Ah, hello my sla- opps sorry I mean my ser- my loyal subjects, I am taking over for now so I can tell you what happened after my fake time capsule got rid of the kids. They’ll never come back from where I sent them! But then again they are pretty good at surviving, and they were taught by my brother Lightning, so they may survive. But it is unlikely considering that I sent them to the far past. 

*****************

“Owch,” I said when we hit the ground, “That hurt.”

“Where are we?” asked Brix.

   ***************

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. The kids will never escape my time portal that I created with my new friend, Hope. She is my new human partner and together we got rid of those kid heroes, so I can face my old home and my “best friends” without interference and explaining. Soon we will win. I will get revenge.

***************

“I think that we’re in the past,” Golden replied.

“Really, what made you think that,” I said sarcastically.

“It was probably that,” Birde answered with Ember on her back pointing at the giant castle with a coliseum next to it. 

“No,” he said looking behind us, “It was them.”  

The humans that were behind us had spears in hand pointed at us.

We watched them carefully waiting for them to make the first move. And they did though not in the way we expected. One of them yelled now and arrows flew at us, a net also dropped from the sky and landed on Golden’s tail. He yelled out in pain and anger because everything always lands on his tail. He began swinging the net to and fro in attempts to get it off.

Arctic Poems by Tara Gopalan

Ice in the Arctic and Antarctic circles is currently melting at a terrifying rate. The ocean level is rising, engulfing islands, and stray pieces of ice caps often trap young sea animals. Animals like seals, whales, and polar bears are all deeply affected by the absence of land and the warming of the ocean. These short poems are to express the grief and fear these animals would feel because of their home being taken away. 

My childhood felt free

Now I struggle to swim, breathe

A lone seal, dying

I feel sickly warmth

Engulfing me, starving me

Where did my pod go?

There’s no space to prowl

On the icy land I walked

Gone into the sea

Animals that depend on land to help them escape from predators are dying, starving the predators and killing them as well. Warmer oceans mean less plankton and fish. Young animals sometimes get left behind when their elders leave for better places. These poems were intended to put the reader in the places of these animals in an attempt to inspire change, so here are some things you can do to stop the ice caps from melting!

• Use less fossil fuels

• Drilling fossil fuels out of the ground takes a lot of energy and releases chemicals into the air. These chemicals contribute to climate change. The less fossil fuels we use, the less we need to drill.

• Consider using solar panels in your home!

• Use battery-powered cars!

• Don’t unnecessarily drive places!

• Eat less beef: Cows release a lot of methane, which contributes to the warming.

Overall, all aspects of global warming are connected. Raising awareness is one of the best ways to help stop ice caps from melting! The animals will thank you. 

Four Books for When You Don’t Know What to Read Next By Samantha Lozinski

Sometimes the most stressful part of being an avid reader is the worry about what book will be your next read. So to hopefully solve some of that worry, here are four of my favorite books that I don’t hear about a lot.

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

What’s it about: Autumn and Finn used to be inseparable, but times have changed. Autumn now has her close group of friends and her boyfriend, Jamie. Not many people pay attention to them. Meanwhile, Finn is the person everyone wants to be around. Even though they both try to avoid each other as much as possible, sometimes they are still forced to be around each other's presence at dinners since their moms are so close. Around August, things will change drastically forever, and Autumn can’t help but wonder that maybe things should be different. Maybe she should be with him.

Why I love it: Even though you might feel a little heartbroken, it is so worth it. This book will keep you reading just “one more chapter” every time you finish the last. 

If He Had Been with Me - Amazon

The Lake by Natasha Preston

What’s it about: Best friends Esme and Kayla are back at Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training after being former campers a few years ago. Esme loves being around the little kids and helping-especially the girls in her cabin- but that brings back good memories gone bad for Esme. Esme and Kayla did something awful when they were campers, that they want nobody to ever find out. But when they get a message that says THE LAKE NEVER FORGETS. The terrible thing they do might just resurface along with the chaos happening around camp.

Why I love it: This book continuously throws shocking and (sometimes disgusting) things in the character's path the whole time, making you never want to stop reading. 

The Lake - Amazon

The Island by Natasha Preston 

What’s it about: Jagged Island is a private amusement park. Liams, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley are all social media influencers who have a large following on social media. They have been invited to this private amusement park to get the VIP treatment of a lifetime for an exclusive weekend before the park officially opens. When the teens arrive, they are ready to create posts and videos of their jam-packed itinerary for their loyal followers. But little do they know, that what is supposed to be an exclusive weekend at an island-amusement park for the wealthy (or highly influential) would turn out to be an “exclusive” horror story.

Why I love it: This book leaves your heart beating and wanting to know what move the influencers will make next in order to (hopefully) survive.

The Island - Amazon

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

What’s it about: Libby Strout is ready for a new change. High School, new friends, love, and every single thing life has to offer for the new Libby Strout. But Libby hasn’t exactly had an easy past. She was once named “America's fattest teen”. Now she knows that all people see when they look at her is how she looks, and life hasn’t been a fun ride trying to cope with her mother's death, which sent a chain reaction of a heartbroken father and grief. Jack Masselin is also going through something confusing. Even though he acts cool, charming, and hilarious, he can’t shake past the fact that he can’t recognize faces-even his own family. All he can do is try to play it cool. But when a cruel high school game takes place, it results in Jack and Libby having to be in community service and group counseling together, forcing an unlikely pair to go through rough times together. 

Why I love it: You will fall in love with Libby and Jack’s character and enjoy the friendship that they have together, even with the hard topics covered in the book.

Holding Up the Universe - Amazon

FAKE NEWS by Abby and Serena and Henry Cleveland

Abby: Hello, this is WEEKFANS. I’m Abbioli Cow!

Serena: What do you mean, this FAKE NEWS.

Abby: It’s literally the same thing! I just rearranged the letters! Chill!

Serena: Uh. . ok sure! Wait… hold up… WE’RE DOING A NEWS CHANNEL?

Director: Cut!

(accidentally leaves microphone and camera on)

(it was because all of the crew quit after being yelled at by the director)

Director: You’re not supposed to argue!  This is a NEWS CHANNEL!

Abby: But-–hmph!! Arghhhh! 

Serena: But I thought it was fake news…

Director: NO IT’S NOT!

(realizes mic and camera are on)

Director: TURN THE MICROPHONE AND CAMERA OFF!

*beep*

(two minutes later)

*camera zooms into focus*

Abby: Hey Serena, I wasn’t at school on day 5 ‘cause I was sick. Can I borrow your notes for science class because we have a review class next time and a test next next time and I need to study so I have to study using the notes and—

Serena: NO.

Abby: WHAT WHY???? YOU—

Director: JUST START ALREADY!

Serena: Hmph.

Director: 3, 2, 1, strawberry!

Abby and Serena: ?????

Director (screaming): YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO START NOW!

Abby: Ok, ok, hmph! Welcome to WEEKFANS. I’m—

Serena: She’s a beagle cow!

Director: CUT!

Abby: I AM NOT A BEAGLE COW! I AM ABIGAIL CAO!

Serena: No!

Abby: Yes!

Serena: No!

Abby: Yes!

Serena: No!

Abby: Yes!

Director: Stop yapping! I didn’t order a yappacino! (throws mug of coffee which bounces off wall and hits him in the face)

Director: (collapses unconscious)

(Automated voice starts)

Any stunt of this news was performed by professionals. Please do not take any information in this news seriously and please go home safe so that these actors don’t have to take blame.

Abby: CALL SOMEONE SERENA CALL SOMEONE

Serena: *taps some numbers on her phone

(Automated voice starts again)

Your call has been forwarded to an automated voice message system. *censored* - is not available. At the tone, please don’t leave a message. *beep*

Serena: Uhh.. I’ll try it again.

(Automated voice starts a third time)

Please stop calling *censored*. They do not want to talk to you. Now please, shoo.

Abby: WHO DID YOU EVEN CALL????

Serena: Uh… the dentist?

Abby: NO

Serena: Yes

Abby: NO!

Serena: Yes!

Abby: NO!

Serena: YES!

THE END

Abby: SERENA! GET OVER HERE NOW!

Serena: Uhh… I’m good!

(in the background a door slams shut)

Abby: SERENA!!! Ni Ben!

(Automated voice starts again)

Please note, there is NO PART 2.

FAKE NEWS PT 2

Abby: Hello, welcome back to the second EVER episode of…WEEKFANS!! YAY!!!!

(Serena quit her job)

Abby: Ok, we need to get Serena back. So, using my ‘sources’, I know that she is at her house in Hawaii watching Hamilton right now. Please, kindly give me a moment to drag her back here!

(Sudden realization)

Abby: What time is it? It’s seven AM, so… IT’S ONLY 2 AM IN HAWAII! Hooray! Added bonus!

*calls Serena*

Serena: Your call has been forwarded to an automated voice messaging system. *censored* is not available. At the tone, please don’t leave a message.

Abby: I know this is you, SERENA!

Serena: No it’s not!

*Abby hangs up and flies to Serena’s house in Hawaii*

(Abby and Serena start screaming in chinese)

Abby: 你给我回来！！（GET BACK HERE NOW!)

Serena: 不！(NO!)

Abby: 你快回来！(GET OVER HERE FASTER!)

Serena: 我就不！(I WILL NEVER)

(Meanwhile Henry Cleveland enters Serena’s house)

Henry: Uhh… What????

*pulls up Google Translate on his phone*

*More screaming in Chinese from Serena and Abby*

Google Translate Voice: No! Yes! No! Yes! We need to continue the news! No we don’t!

Henry: Ah. So YOU want this and YOU want that and…DID SERENA JUST CALL ABBY A COW?! AND ABBY JUST CALLED SERENA– I mean… not gonna lie… a bit harsh. 

Abby and Serena: %@#&@!%#

Henry: Excuse me, that is not appropriate language!

*Abby and Serena stop and glare at him

*Abby and Serena look at each other

*Abby opens the door and Serena grabs Henry, shoves him out, and slams the door shut

Abby: *smiles pleasantly* Anyway, shall we continue?

*Abby and Serena continue screaming

(Henry is pressed up against the window and peers through)

CRASH!!!!

*Abby and Serena turn around to see Henry on the floor and a broken window next to him.* Henry: Woah there, that is not nice!

Abby (pleasantly): Shall we give Henry a one-way ticket to Greenland?

Serena (pleasantly smiles): Why, that is the best idea you have ever had!

Abby: Thank you so much!

Serena: Also the first best idea you ever made!

Abby: And then along the way we should go back to our WEEKFANS studio!

Serena: Fine.

Henry: B-but-but-but ok first why GREENLAND? And I also wanna go to WEEKFANS!

Abby and Serena: *laugh villainously*

(big fanfare plays)

THE END!

*There is totally not a Part 3 ;)

TOTALLY

Eldagrass Gootz by Sean Fulmer

Eldagrass Gootz was a D1 prospect in the basketball world until his grades started plummeting in hybrid school. (Hybrid school is a school for D1 basketball players like Eldagrass Gootz). Mason, Gootz’s neighbor, encounters Eldagrass in Hybrid Heights and Gootz destroys him and gets arrested. He tries to escape with his D1 basketball powers but gets caught. What will he do now? Find out in Part 1…

The Tale of the Truck With the Vanity Plate 8BB8B88 and its Driver by Torsten Bilen

Chapter 1

One day, a man named Bobby Smack bought a car. It was a nice little red pickup truck. One week later he went to the Boise DMV. He did all the paperwork, and then said, 

“Wait! Before you give me the new permanent license plate, I want a vanity!” 

“You want a vanity plate?” the DMV guy said. “What do ya’ want it to say? Am3r1c4?” 

“No. I want it to say 8BB8B88.” 

“8B88BB8?” 

“No! 8BB8B88.”

“8BB8B88?”

“Yes!”

So Bobby got his vanity plate. And it read out 8BB8B88. Now you are probably wondering why little Bobby wanted his license plate to read 8BB8B88. Well it was so he could confuse the police. So Bobby Smack headed out onto the highway. While en route to his destination, Coeur d’Alene, he crused at 95 mph until he ran into an Idaho State Police officer. The officer flashed his lights and started to pursue him. However, when the officer tried to run his license plate, it didn’t go well.

“What the heck is that guy’s plate number? 8B8… No. How the **** am I supposed to read that! Calling all units I need backup!” Soon a police helicopter joined the pursuit. 

“I can’t read that either!” yelled the helicopter pilot into his radio.

Chapter 2

After pursuing for over 10 minutes, and 4 other cars joining the chase, no one had managed to successfully read his license plate. So they terminated the pursuit.

“Yes!” yelled little Bobby. “I have avoided the police with my awesome vanity plate!” But only 2 days later, Bobby Smack had to head back home. While heading back, Bobby stopped in Caldwell to refill his car with gas. After he had filled up the truck, he peeled out of the parking lot, leaving a giant number 11 on the road in the process. There just so happened to be the sheriff from the Caldwell Police Department getting back in his car after grabbing a doughnut at the gas station. He noticed little Bobby do this, and started to pursue him. Now you see, the sheriff was 59 years old, but he had the best glasses you could imagine. 

“8BB8B88” said the sheriff. “Why would I have expected anything different from someone who just left rubber on the road in front of a police officer, a sheriff at that.” Now the car the sheriff was driving wasn’t a Crown Victoria or a Chevy Tahoe, or even a Ford Explorer. It was a Dodge Charger SRT Redeye Jailbreak, with a supercharged 6.2 liter HEMI V8, boasting 807 horsepower. The sheriff tapped the gas and he flew to 45 mph in about 3 seconds. He turned on his lights. 

Little Bobby said “Oh no, he’s on to me!” Bobby put his foot to the floor and passed 80 mph. But the Jailbreak sped past and cut him off with ease. Bobby braked hard and hung a left going straight through a red light and a traffic filled intersection. The sheriff drifted over the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding some pedestrians, and zipped on the westbound twenty-second street. He then floored it and within ten seconds he was back on little Bobby’s tail. Little Bobby looked back at the Charger, lights blaring, and when he looked forward he saw a tree.

Chapter 3

Poor little Bobby smacked straight into that tree at 117 mph. However, because of the speed, when he flew into the tree he just took it out. Then he flew into a brick building, and blasted through it in a fraction of a second, and, with the sheriff still following him, he flew out the back and into another tree, which he ricocheted off of, and smacked straight into a garbage can, which sent him flying. He ended up getting stuck in yet another tree. The sheriff called the Caldwell S.W.A.T. team, and the Caldwell Fire Department, and the Caldwell E.M.T.

“Ow!” said poor Bobby Smack. He turned around to see the back half of his little red truck gone, and the path of destruction he left behind.

“Driver! Exit the vehicle!” said the sheriff over the P.A. system.

“I would, but I am stuck 25 feet high in a tree!” said Bobby. After 6 minutes, the fire department and the E.M.T.s had arrived. They got Bobby out of the truck and, after verifying that he was ok, sent him to jail. As for the truck, which was completely totaled having lost its hood, passenger side door, bed, and all the windows, was sent to a scrapyard. However, two months later some of the metal from the truck was used to make a few parts for a brand new sports car.

The End