Reader Contributions ...

By Julianna F.

The world is full of people, cool people, weird people, and that person who nobody knows thats just trying to fit in.
Well, I had to make a desicion, who was I going to be? I had to put a lot of thought into it, I had to think a lot.

I decided that I was going to be <drumroll please>
Who I was, I decided to be that girl who dosent care what poeple say who does what she wants. I'm a skateboarder, but im also a math genius and im okay with that.

So... it wasn't something huge, but it really did effect my life. I think I made the right choice.

 

Pushing On

by:Amanda S.

Right now. This very moment. I sit here. The cold shaded dirt beneath me. The shade from a lifeless tree that hovers above. I’ve ran, to surround myself with the gloom and heavy hearts of others. Protected from the world around.

I sit here, tears streaming down my face. My cries are quite, but echo through the hollow grounds. Thoughts race through my head, as it pounds from reckless emotions. My heart races with fear, but my legs can no longer move. My fear is of his return. That he will come back for me, to finish the destruction once started. But yet as I want to run from this fear, this man, my Uncle. I miss him so dearly and want nothing but the old times back.

I cry harder, knowing that the confusion will never end. My chest tightens, making breathing difficult. I begin to rise, opening up my lungs, but I can barely stand. My legs are shaking. I crumble back down to the ground. How is it, that one man can cause so much misery by making just one move? Just one move to satisfy a wrong pleasure. I hope he is satisfied. I want him to see the pain inside everyone’s eyes. To look straight at my mother and father, to testify to the judge.

This burden is too much for me to carry. I no longer want to do it. I no longer want to try and understand, but to leave this world forever. I would rather lie with the ones I’m among than continue on. But that would never solve the problem at hand. I have to move forward to help my family move on as well.

… It was this very moment that I had finalized a decision that I had been dwelling on for quite some time. Under those circumstances I couldn’t seem to think straight for a long period of time. I figured that there were 3 solutions to my problem. One being to stay put, two being to run away, and the third being to take my own life. But after considering the weight that each choice would bring, it was number one that made it through. It was definitely hard, but in the long run I had made the right choice. My life is back in order, and i am once again the one in control.

 

My Most Difficult Decision

By Diane

What was your most difficult decision? There are many choices to make through out your life. A lot of tricky decisions to make too. One of my trickiest choices I made was this year, about two weeks ago, when I went to Mexico. It was stealing or not.

Three older kids and I went shopping at a Plaza. In the first store, we went to, nobody bought anything. Until we left that store I saw one of my friends asking me to put the bracelet on, for her. I realized after that she stole it! In the next few stores, I kept seeing them sneak different, random gifts in there purses. I couldn’t believe it. They saw me looking at this t-shirt over and over. It said México written across with paint splatter all around. Finally, they asked me, do you want anything? I knew what that meant.

I was not going to be willing to say yes to anything no matter how bad I wanted the t-shirt. I knew I could just come back another day, with other kids, and bring money. I just ignored them for the rest of the day and didn’t hang out with them that much, cause I did not want to turn into them when I got older. I was not going to be guilty like them in the future.

 

By Caroline

I stared at the watch in my hand. The clear surface gleamed in the blinding sunlight as I slowly fell in love with the watch.
I had found the watch on a Sunday morning three years ago. At the age of nine, I had developed a taste for pretty things, which in my opinion included this watch. The watch… Oh, it was gorgeous. Red, with a leather strap, and on the face was Hello Kitty. It was simply amazing.

As I walked back into my house, I never once tore my eyes away from the beauty that sat before me. I studied it, fumbled around with it, tried it on. It even fit properly. It’s like it was meant for me. However, there was one thing that wouldn’t budge from my mind, no matter how hard I tried to push it away: the owner. Who could the owner possibly be? After a series of long, hard thinking, I decided that the girl would be named Lauren, and that she couldn’t care less about the watch. Happy with this, I stuck the watch into my drawer.
Now, I know that this is not the right thing to do. However, I was truly in love with the watch, and firmly believed that the owner, “Lauren”, wouldn’t mind. Over the following days, I opened my drawer every so often to admire the lovely thing, taking care not to let my mother see. Now, my mother was very observant, which means that she would definitely notice if said watch was found. She would make me give it back, which I had absolutely no intention of doing.

Now that just now was a lie. I constantly thought about “Lauren”. I knew how I’d feel if I lost something and never found it again, because a similar experience had happened to me before. Night after night, I tossed and turned, trying to decide what to do. On one hand, I loved the watch, and “Lauren” might have moved on already. On the other hand, “Lauren” probably loved the watch too, and she was most likely still looking for it. So, one day three weeks later, I finally decided to return the watch.

It was a risky business. My mother got very, very suspicious when I told her that I wished to play outside. The only reason I had done so before was because there was a puppy outside, and I wanted to play with it. Well, there was clearly no puppy. My mother interrogated me at least a dozen times over before letting me go.

As soon as I got out, I ran towards the area I had found the watch. However, another girl got there first.
“This is where I left it. I swear!” The girl standing in front of me was no Lauren. She was my next door neighbor, Chloe. Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she repeatedly pointed at the same empty spot on the ground. At that moment, I wanted to turn around and run away the same direction I had come. However, I forced myself to put on a concerned face and asked her. “Hey, Chloe! What’s wrong?”

She looked at me for a moment, tears dropping onto the sandy sidewalk. “I lost my watch,” she sniffled. “Oh!” I said gingerly. “Have you… have you seen it?”

I chuckled nervously. It was now or never. “Heh, actually. I have.” Chloe stared at me. “What?” My face went red. “I, uh, I’ve seen it.” Chloe stared at me some more. “Where is it?” she asked. Slowly, I reached into my pocket and took out the watch. I watched as Chloe’s face lit up.

“Here.” I said guiltily as the truth dawned on Chloe. “You had it this entire time?” she said. I nodded. To my surprise, a smile stretched across her face. “Oh my gosh, I’m so glad! That you had it, I mean, and not some girl who lives across the world or something, so that I got it back!” I tried to smile as I dutifully handed it to her. “Thank you, Caroline. Thank you.” With that, she turned and ran home.

I stared after her. I felt so empty, yet so… happy. As I turned and walked back home, I could’ve sworn I heard a voice. “You did the right thing.” I smiled at that, and skipped all the way back home.

 

By Kateishia F.

What do you do when you come home from school,go to feed your sisters pet hamster and find it dead? I mean my sister had this pet hamster, beige in colour. She loved it and decited to call it princess. (A sweet name, hey?)She loved that hamster and would always rush through the door once she got home to see it. He was kept in my rooom with my hamster, Hammy. One day i had just gotten home from school ansd no-one was home. I went straight to the cage to give the darlings some food. But when i looked in i only saw one living, breathing hampter. The other was in the corner dead with blood all over. My hamster had killed it and Princess could not save herself. I cried. I truly did. I felt for that little guy. Then i remembered i had to tell my sister. I didn't want to do it! I couldn't! But i had to. And that was the worst and saddest decion of my life. I still remember the face my sister gave when i told her. I will always remember it.

Elevator Girl

By Erica D.

“Hunny bunny lunch is ready!” Mom called out. “Yeah whatever.” I replied. Ugh my mom is such a geek! Why can’t I have a cooler mom? Geesh, Well here’s my life story:

I’m a popular cool girl with a rich daddy and everyone is jealous of me; oh and I mock those who are beneath me.

But one day it all changed. I was at school just hanging out but then I saw the school cute (Brad Millards) A.K.A my future husband. Yeah, we’re going out, but then something caught my eye; a door that blended in with the wall. So, I went in, it was an elevator. Oh well, I guess I’ll get back to Brad. The door opened and I left.

“Look the school nerd!” Brad sneered. “Where?” I asked tempted to mock someone. But I noticed my voice had changed.

I went to look in the mirror and let out a long horrifying scream. I was a complete nerd!

I realized that it must have been the elevator that changed me. I ran to the elevator and changed back but instead of going back to the way I was; I took off my make up, broke up with Brad and became a normal kid who doesn’t make fun of people cause I’ve learned how much it hurts.

So what if I get made fun of, its better than making fun of other people; plus, my face feels great without all that make up on.

I now realize how much it made me look like a clown.

When you are yourself like I did it makes you a WAY better person on the inside and you think different and act different well, in a good way.

The End

 

By Tammy C.

I met my mother at the door. She had just hung up the phone. I heard her conversation through the open window. She was talking to my best friend’s mother. The first thing she asked me when I entered the room was,” Is there anything you would like to tell me, about you and your dad? Before I could answer she said “think about it “ then she walked away.

I went directly to the bathroom, closed the door and leaned against the wall. My mind was racing, this is my big chance. I don’t know if I can speak, what will I say, my mind raced. How can words be used to explain something I barely understand. Are there words to describe the things going on between me and my dad? I made my mind up. I will tell the truth. I have always wanted to tell the truth and so this is it, here I go.

I walked into the kitchen, there sat mom. Her head was resting in her hands. She looked very tired. The bills and checkbook were in front of her on the table. Mom, I began, Dad is making me do things that I don’t want to do and I don’t think I should, what should I do? “I don’t know”, she said. Tell me all about it and we will figure this out together and someone will help us to know what to do. She went out for a few hours and returned with someone who helped us, and we began a new life my mom and me. And that was the first best decision I ever made. Since then I have made many more. It all began with the truth.

 

Four Squares

By Cristina G.

Once there was a girl named Kelly. She was 8 years old. She was playing Four Square with her best friend Stacy. The rules were: No over-heads, No kicking, and No cheating like tricking people, or playing too hard. Stacy started to cry. “What’s wrong?” asked Kelly. “They cheated and got me out,” said Stacy. Kelly followed Stacy. Then after that, Kelly went and told Emily that Josh and Allie got Stacy out. “Emily?” “Yes?” “Stacy is crying.” “Why?” “Because Josh and Allie tried to get her out. Josh was also mean by making fun of her and telling people to get her out. He was playing too hard to, and cheated.” “Tell Stacy I will talk to them,” said Emily. So then Emily got the ball back. Soon a crowd came. After that, Josh said, “It is just a game. Why did you run away?” Josh’s friend Rob said, “Ya, Kelly!” “Well, I ran away with Stacy because she is my best friend,” said Kelly. Then Allie said, “You need to be on a side.” I asked myself which side is right and which one is wrong. I thought. Everybody stared then I said, “I will choose the side that is right” They asked, “which one is that?” I told them you have to figure it out yourself. They all wondered.

I told them that I am on Stacy’s side because it is not right to cheat or make fun of people and to say mean stuff. So I chose to be on her side. They asked again and again why until I said. “I already told you guys.” Since then, Stacy and I always have been best friends. But we don’t know if we are going to be their friends for a while.

 

A Poem by Ruhee P.

A Winter’s Tale

Come listen to this winter’s tale,
Of a grasshopper, weak and pale.

Summer was gone when the sun was aglow;
It was winter time; snowflakes and snow!

The pale grasshopper went hop, hop, hop,
At the ant’s doorstep, he did stop.

Said the grasshopper;

“You are my friend, do me some good.
I am tired and hungry, please give me food.”

Replied the ant:

“When it was summer, so bright and gay,
All you did was jump and play.

I worked hard for days so long
While you whistled and sang a song.”

“I carried loads of food to store
till my cupboard could hold no more.

You rested under the shady tree
and always made fun of me. ”

“I can’t help you , I am sorry to say
Goodbye and kindly go away.”