Books

Books

Fun to read in little nooks

Including everything from rooks to cooks

But so much more is to be found inside

If only one person would open their eyes

And look inside the book

You can’t just ignore them 

Or give them a once-over 

Since

You never can judge a book by its cover 

Boats

Boats

They can be used to cross moats

Or tote luggage across the sea

Or used by refugees to flee

To fight in the night

And whence comes morn

They can be used to win the war

Boats

Most can float

And if they don't

They won’t be used

Merely as pieces of art over which people muse

Boats

Now on the news

Scared people think

That they will sink and forever be lost in the drink

Boats

I like boats the most

The best thing since before toast

Death

Resting silently on such a peaceful day

But then suddenly the shelf gave way

Down with a crash

The bowl was smashed

Together this moment was the last they would spend 

But neither would say this was finally the end

In their last moments they said their goodbyes

But no one could stop them from closing their eyes

A Memorial For Fred and George the Goldfishes

Sadie Peterson

Sadie Peterson


    The sound of my vintage alarm clock pulls me out of a deep slumber. The pale moonlight shines through my window. The clock reads 5:48 and I know I am late. If I don't hurry, I won't make it in time. I snap my fingers and the lights click on. I walk over to my wardrobe and it opens with a creak. Although most of my world’s appliances are controlled by the mind, I prefer the old lifestyle. I had read about it in school and ever since, I have been envious of the way of life in 2016. I select a dark pair of jeans, a white tank top, a warm tan cardigan, a matching wool hat, and a pair of light tan fuzzy boots. I comb my hair and put it in the usual French braid. I put in my contacts, grab a small watch, a tiny replica of the door key, and a retractable flashlight. Everyone is sleeping so I decide to leave from the window. The crisp morning air rushes into my bedroom as I open it. I shimmy down the gutter, dangling fifteen feet above the ground. The crunch of leaves under my feet makes the morning darkness a little less eerie.


      Soon, I hear the waves crashing against the rocks. The tide was almost in; if I don’t hurry I will miss my chance. This chance only comes once a month, only when the moon is full. I break out into a run and don't slow until my feet touch the sand. The moon will be bright enough for me to see it, so I don't have to take out my flashlight. I trudge along the beach to the grey rocks as I pull out my watch to check the time. It reads 5:57 A.M. Three minutes until I can get in. I slip my cardigan off and fold it. Carefully, I place it, along with my jeans, socks, and boots, in a cove that the water never licks. The water is cool as it creeps from my toes to my ankles. After taking a few more steps I dive into another universe. A rush of ice cold liquid splashes over my face as I am entangled in what seems like another world.


     It is dark so I flick on my flashlight. A whole new sense of beauty is revealed to me. I want to stay and watch, but I have to keep moving or I'll miss it. Swimming has made me feel free for as long as I can remember, but due to the circumstances I live under I don't get to do it often. I swim for two minutes before surfacing. I don't think, just swim. Memories are hard for me and that is why I only remember once a month. The rest of the time I try not to think about the past. I don't feel guilty shutting my memories out, but I have to let them in once in awhile. Finally, air wraps around my head. A shiver runs down my spine as a pull out my watch. I stare at it, waiting for it to change to 6:00 A.M. It changes and I spring into action. At this exact moment the tide is just right for me to find it. I take a deep breath and dive. I swim down and finally up again. I don't know exactly where I will surface but I am hoping it won't be in the jagged rocks above my head. My lungs burn and I swim faster. At last I am engulfed in fresh air. The darkness covers my eyes like eyelids, for the moon is not present in my safe place. It is nothing magical, just a cave full of my memories.


      Turning on my flashlight is an option, but I prefer the dark. It doesn't scare me. I have been through too much to be afraid of it. I feel around for the side of the pool and if I am in the right place I will find it. My hand finds a ledge and I pull myself onto the stone. The hidden lamp is not far from my reach, so I feel around until I find it alongside a box of old matches. The match glows in my hand as I guide it to the lamp’s wick. I repeat this with four lamps around the cave before arranging them in a circle and finding my robe. Pulling the wool over my naked body fills me with instant warmth. Remembering is hard for me, so I sit for a while just studying the cave walls. They are not jagged like most rocks in the area. They are smooth like glass, but dull like lead. Above me there is not one crack, there is only one ledge that fits into the wall in such a way that you wouldn't see it if you weren't looking. It almost reminds me of a glass dome that was painted with a dreary matte paint.


     My watch is balancing on the only stone in the cave as I reach over and grab a small wooden box. It is carved with swirls and other intricate images. Running my fingers over the patterns  brings a tear to my eye. I remember my mother and have to bite back a whimper. There is no one here to hear me, but I can't cry yet. I pull the key out of a compartment in the box and unlock it. My eyes are drawn to the red velvet that lines the box, then to a letter from my father. He sent it to my mother during the war. It reads:


November 11, 2236


Dear Beatris,


      I miss you dearly. I am doing fine over here. I hope to come home soon, but they have not given any news of when we can leave. How is Sadie? I miss her dearly. Today is her 11 month birthday! This letter must be late but give her birthday kisses from daddy.


Planets and we are oddly similar
Our bodies are far
But our hearts are near
No matter the distance we are always connected by love
Your love follows me wherever I go
I miss you dearly
The love we possess will never be broken


I miss you more than words can say. I would be there if the law would allow.


        Love always,
                     Tony


    My father was not the best poet but he made my mom’s heart flutter. I remember watching her read the letters. She would smile, cry, and laugh all at once. I picked up a picture of a cake with a huge, green number three on it. It was taken on December 11, 2238, my third birthday. My daddy came home from war to celebrate and we had a huge celebration! The next day my parents took me to the park to play with my friend Heidi. As we walked I saw a strange man in dull clothes. He seemed to be holding a black pear with an intricate pattern on it. It seemed  odd, but I was three so I let it go. We arrived at the park and my parents realized they forgot our picnic so they headed back to the house. I don't remember much but I was later told the details. All I remember is seeing the strange man run, hearing a huge bang, and seeing my home explode. I was later told that an enemy of my fathers had set off a grenade in my home. The rest of my family had been lost in the war and no one else wanted me. I had felt abandoned, I still do. I remember someone taking me to the police and from there I was taken to Sin Padres Orphanage. As I grew up the head mistress became more harsh than I ever expected. I spent many days doing chores instead of playing with other children. In my fifth year at the orphanage I met my two best friends. I met Emma when I moved to the orphanage, but we didn't become best friends until we were eight. That same year we met Annabeth. She was staring at us from a park bench one day and since then she has helped us live exciting lives. She has a wonderful father and a technology-free home. I have never been a fan of technology, but as of now I can't change the past.

    I lift a picture of my parents in the hospital on the day I was born. I was born in the bath at the hospital and maybe that is why I love water so much. I read letters until I feel water against my ankles; my time is up. I only come here once a month because the rest of the time the cave is half full with water. I re-lock the box and slip it on the top shelf. I fold my robe on top of it leaving my skin bare. I strap on my watch, flick on my flashlight, blow out the lanterns, and store them on a rocky ledge. I step to the edge of the pool and jump. I swim away from the rocks until my lungs burn, then I know it's time to surface. I take a deep breath and swim the rest of the distance to shore. The sun is just barely peaking over the horizon so I take my time. I take the towel that I hide in the rocks and dry myself until my skin stings. I can't take any chances. No one can know where I go and if people see me wet they will get suspicious. I pull my clothes on and turn off my flash light. Alarm clocks don't go off until 7:00 A.M.  and today is my day to make breakfast. This means I can walk in the door without being noticed. I can pretend I am getting milk or something.

    The lock clicks as I turn the key replica inside it. The door is well oiled, so it doesn't squeak as I open it and sneak into the kitchen. I turn on the stove and hurry to make oatmeal. The alarms go off just as I finish setting the table. Emma is the first one down. She makes a point of getting here first so she can put sugar on her oatmeal. Sugar is not aloud at the orphanage and she only gets it when one of us cooks. As I eat, my parents slip into my mind, but I push them out for fear of crying. I feel guilty, but here crying is a crime.

Thistle Chapter 3

I meet an old new friend.

I woke up, at least I think I woke up. At second thought, with this mini Aurora Borealis swirling around me with the voices, I'm gonna say no. Yep definitely no. As I stared in awe at the mass of psychedelic rainbow monsters (at least that's what they look like) I was very, very, confused. Then this voice spoke to me, but not to my ears if that makes any sense. It was like it was already inside me. Jack, the voice called out softly as if from a distance. I was confused how to reply. Then there was nothing, suddenly JACK! Spirits almighty just talk to me here, okay? I thought, But how? The voice continued. Just like that Jack, just like that. Anyway do you know who I am? The voice asked. No, I thought. They call me Thistle, Greenbark Thistle. The voice said smugly. You got that one from James Bond didn't you? I inquired, … He sat in silence. Come on Thistle just admit it. I added. Okay fine, but a Druid’s gotta do something waiting around a couple hundred years for his guardian, he spoke. Hey wait a minute, back up, what'd you say? That you are a Druid? I asked, puzzled. Yeah, and you’re a guardian... wait you didn't know that? Man, what are they teaching you youngsters in school these days, while putting on a shaky elderly accent. Explain, I said simply and somewhat irritatedly. Fine, he said poutily, Druids are nature spirits that depending on where their home is, they have some control over the physical elements of the land. I for example, am mainly forest Druid. An image dropped into my mind, a tall lanky warrior with wooden staff in what looked like a gillysuit except it had tree bark armor plates and thorns everywhere. That's me in physical form, Thistle continued, now as your guardian spirit, I can only take physical form as your battle avatar. I interrupted, Okay, okay, okay how about you stop talking and show me? Because if I ever make a life story, this would be boring. 

The Worst Trip

It all started in the summer of 2013, the summer I had between 4th and 5th grade. My family and I decided to go on a trip through Arizona and Utah. While we were in Utah we made a bad decision- we decided to drive in my stepmom's Toyota up a steep mountain. When we got to the top, there was snow everywhere. My stepmom told my dad that this was a bad idea, but my dad didn't care. Then out of nowhere it started to snow. As we finally reached the tippy top of the mountain, we got stuck and my older brother and sister started flipping out. My dad then told us that he was going to get out and try to dig the truck out of the snow with his shovel. Maybe a half an hour later my dad opened the door and in all my life I will never forget what he said next: ''The shovel broke; we are going to have to walk down the mountain to the trailer that I saw while we were driving up the mountain." We took the two blankets and the two umbrellas and gave them to my older sister, my stepmom, my baby brother, and my baby sister, while my dad, my older brother, and I were dressed for Arizona weather because we had just left there. The upside is that it stopped snowing but it started to hail, and of course I had shorts and a short sleeve shirt on.

We finally got to the trailer that my dad had been talking about, and started to approach it. The guy's two dogs came running towards us and barking. Luckily their owner came out and yelled at them so they went back and quieted down. The man then approached us and tried to talk to us, but he could only speak Spanish except for two words: "its" and "ok". My dad knows a little bit of Spanish though and was able to talk to the man. Then the man invited us into his his trailer where he gave my stepmom and baby sister his bed, and then made everyone hot chocolate. Eventually when we tried to thank him, all he could say was, "its ok its ok." After that he then took my dad to some hill nearby so that we could call for help. My dad came back and said that the police were on their way to pick us up and bring us into town but it would be a few. I then decided to go to sleep on his couch that he had offered to me.

All of a sudden my dad woke me up out of a dead sleep and told me that the police were here to get us. It must have been around 11pm. My sister and I got to ride in the back of a police car on the way into town. It was very uncomfortable though. The officer was very nice and told us he would buy us a snack at a gas station because we must be hungry. But when we got to the gas station and I got out of the back of the police car, everything went downhill. People started yelling because they thought that I was escaping the cops. We got everything all cleared up though before people could call more police. We went into the gas station and the officer apologized for all the inconvenience and then paid for our snacks. After this he brought us to our hotel and we got our room and went to sleep. Everyone was out within a matter of ten minutes. The next morning my dad's phone ringing woke me up then I remembered that my mom was supposed to meet us half way between Utah and Arizona, but since this happened she had been waiting for almost three hours. This crazy two days all ended with my mom going out of her way and getting me at the hotel we stayed at.

Thistle Chapter 2

Wait… I’m good, never mind.

Stepping off the plane into Washington D.C. itself just felt really good. My joints could swing freely again. Anyway, our first tour stop was the Smithsonian. When we got inside, I was amazed by the magnificence of the museum's decorations. We were told to wonder off as far as we wanted if our trackers were on. The trackers were just little red devices stuck to our shoulders and could be turned on and off manually or by phone. As I always do in museums I gravitated towards the ancient history section to check for anything Roman. I guess I'm not actively interested in my heritage but I like to see the Roman artifacts and wonder if my ancestors made them so long ago. I wandered over to a side plaque and read the inscription.

Although many are casted or mold replicas, many are real artifacts. Please do not touch anything besides the interactive exhibits. Of which none were going on right now. Ugghhhhhhhhh! I groaned in disappointment. But then something caught my eye, something shining. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder for shiny things or anything like that. It just caught my eye. I walked over feeling stranger and stranger with each step I took. It was like being startled over and over again, I was on edge. I realize there isn't anyway for the sunlight to come in here and nothing reflective to bounce off of. I took a final step forward, I could clearly see what it was. A little clay tablet on a necklace, it looked like an ancient dog tag. Then I remembered what Romans would do with new recruits who had to prove themselves, they were put on probation. Little probatio tablets like this were dispensed before they became members of the legion. This only increased my curiosity for why it was glowing. I reached out and poked it timidly, nothing happened. Just as I was letting go a sigh of relief, I blacked out.

The Dark

    Have you ever wondered about what lives in the dark, what lurks in the shadows behind you? Have you ever wondered if something was there with you. Have you ever got the feeling something was watching you from a dark corner, closet, or room. Have you thought about what might be under your bed, around a corner, or behind the door, just waiting......
    Have you ever wondered what might happen to you alone in the dark. You have now. Are you scared yet. You will be. Are you looking over your shoulder, turning on every light. It won't help when you fall asleep, Something could be watching or even sitting next to you. You think you're safe, but you're not.

Thistle Chapter 1

I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane

You know that voice in your head, your conscience? The voice that tells you what's right and what's wrong. What decisions to make and how to go about living your life? Yeah, so hear me out okay? This might blow your mind, what if your conscience isn't you? But someone else or something else that is much, much, older. I know what you're thinking; Who does this guy think he is, suggesting such a concept like that? So before I go any further, I'm going to introduce myself. I am Jack, Jack Dirige-Ferro. I have a standard family, my parents and a little sister by the name of Chloe. So before you go on asking about my weird last name, know this. IT'S LATIN! Not Egyptian or anything of the sort. Many people hear the Ferro and immediately pin me as Egyptian. No, but kind of close. Apparently our ancestors were semi-wealthy Roman blacksmiths. When Rome converted about 1700 years ago our family just followed the flow of power and eventually made it to the Americas. Now we live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For school I'm going to Manitou Springs Middle School and that's how it all started. So you see, every year, the school sends some 8th graders on a field trip to New York/Washington D.C. This is the year that I'm able to go on that trip. Bantering with my friends occupies lots of my time on the way there, or I can  read a book. Anyway we aren't going anymore in detail about the ride, it starts to get interesting when we get there. I woke to the sound of the flight attendant's voice announcing that we will be landing shortly.

Nature is beautiful

The wind is howling through the dark woods
I feel fear
The woods’ tree tops swirling around covering the sky
I feel relaxed
The sky is still, with a few fluffy clouds on top
I feel free
The clouds move as the seasons pass
I feel inspired
The flowers are as beautiful as the mushroom
I feel hopeful
And I, I am just a little girl observing the beauty of nature
I feel alive

To-Do List

1. Make a To-Do List✅

2. Check off step one✅

3. Tape To-Do List to fridge✅

4. Read To-Do List✅

5. Take a nap (in progress)

Some things I Hate!!!!!!

Has something ever made you so angry you just wanted to scream?

Well, I have quite a few of those. I call them my biggest pet peeves. One of these pet peeves is when I ask my parents for help, and they don't know what they're talking about. The other day I was working on a big essay, so I asked my mom for help. She started explaining, but she had no idea what she was talking about. I decided to correct her because I didn't want useless information. Then she took it the wrong way and got all angry at me. "You asked for help and I'm giving it. You should be grateful I'm helping at all," she said as she stormed out of the room. I sat there dumbfounded because I had just been yelled at.

Let's just say, I don't ask for help anymore unless I need to.

Day After Day

Ugh 

Another day of school

Social studies & science to start

Lockers and halls 

iPads are insanely confusing 

Math, multiply inequalities 

Problem set 1 million 

And on and on and on

Prime time great stress relief 

Listen to jams 

Lunch, stuff the stomach 

Goof off with friends

Exploratories are bæ

Either chill with no work

Or be CRAZY

Language arts last block

See great friends and learn lots

Bell rings! Great!

But miss friends :(

My Rant About a Concert

Last March I was supposed to go to a Fall Out Boy Concert with my mom and a friend. Because it was March nobody expected it to SNOW! It JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE BIGGEST SNOW STORM OF THE YEAR! The concert was held in Colorado Springs, so even though it was FINE up here, they still canceled the show. Denver people just couldn't make it to the concert, but they don't cancel shows in Denver if Colorado Springs people can't make it up.

After the show got cancelled we got refunds on our tickets. The next closest concert they played at we got tickets to. It was in the middle of summer at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. The venue was all the way up in WYOMING so we had to drive about THREE HOURS just to get to a concert. Plus, we had BETTER seats for the concert in Colorado Springs than we did at that concert. I'm still glad I got to see them though.

Special Delivery

Why are humans such... Well I wouldn't say dumb, but... Okay, yes I would. Why are humans so dumb? They can't learn to take the hints of a bad situation, and act upon them. Now, not all humans seem to be blockheaded. Maybe it's just my owner? Oh dear, I hope not. Well, before I start to rag on him I should probably give some reasoning for my remark.

It was Halloween night and my owner, John, had received a job as a pizza delivery man about a month ago. I don't understand why someone would order a pizza on Halloween night, but at exactly 12 o'clock, Pezzo's Pizzeria received a call from a raspy voiced old woman. She ordered six large plain pizzas. When I say plain, I mean plain. She demanded that the pizza be brought without cheese or pizza sauce. What a silly idea. As John was on the phone with the mysterious lady, I decided now was a good time to scavenge. I haven't always been a house pet you know. I stalked to the nearby park, my owner obviously not paying attention to my leash. It was almost pitch black, but I didn't care. As I found a plump squirrel, a group of screaming kids flew past me leaving behind colorful wrappers containing the sweetest of sweet candies. The squirrel had already left, so I figured now would be a good time to try one of these savory little bundles of joy. As I worked my claws to unwrap the candy, I witnessed my owner yelling my name desperately into the harsh autumn air. I quickly rolled my eyes, let go of my candy, and trotted towards him, thankfully licking his ankle. I could tell he was nervous as he forced a fake smile against his crackling lips. "Come on boy, we've got one more delivery to make and then we can go home, how's that sound?" I pleaded against his leg as he tied the leash back up to my collar. He boarded his bike with a sudden new confidence I had never seen in him before. Maybe it was fake or maybe he was just desperate to collapse in his welcoming bed, but I wished I could see more of this boy.

Holding onto the handles with one hand and my leash with the other, we boarded. As I pranced ahead of him I could tell something wasn't right. The trick or treaters were starting to go home and the once joyful screams of children had now left and Halloween didn't feel the same. My owner let out an exasperated breath he didn't know he had been holding once he reached the top of the dingy hill. This was one side of town we had never visited before and everything set off a very eery vibe. As he walked the bike up to 103 Burstone way, I took a moment to consider my surroundings. The air was harsh and cold, the only heat was occupied by the stack of pizza boxes. I huddled closer, shivering silently. The house we were approaching seemed to be one of an old Victorian Style painted a sorrowful color of maroon. My paws clicked against the cracked cement. I huddled up close to my owner trying to push away my negativity. John's knock boomed against the hand crafted door. No response. Again, a thundering crack on the wood. No answer. As I looked up to the door I noticed a suspicious eye peering down at us. I whimpered, cuddling John's leg. He rested a hesitant yet comforting hand on me. His eyes seemed to tell me ' It's going to be alright ', but even I could see the lie hiding in his honey eyes. Again another knock and a blood curdling scream pierced through the air. The cry for help seemed to be coming from up the stairs, but we stayed at the door shaking. Or at least I was shaking. I could practically see the steam rise in John's eyes. Once more he pounded on the door. The door creaked open. I still remember the sound of the door swinging open. It was straight out of a horror movie. Suddenly, I wished I was back in my natural habitat without a care in  the world. I closed my salty eyes remembering chasing the flock in the field, trotting through the high grass, taking an eventual lap of cool spring water. Oh how I wished I could go back in time. How I wish I had never run into the young farm boys arms as he asked his parents ' can we keep him? '. How I wish I had just run away when the family decided to move across the state. How I wish I had never loved my owner so much. But here I was and I had to make the best of it. No turning back, I thought. I was surprised when no one occupied the space in front of us. But I was even more surprised when my owner stepped inside. 'What an idiot! ' I thought. This is where the thickheaded piece comes in. We had just received a call from a suspicious caller, than arrived at an even more suspicious house, heard a blood curdling scream come from upstairs, and now he wants to go inside?! Oh yah, cause that makes sense. I groaned as I followed him inside. I couldn't just leave him in there to die without a witness. My claws clapped against the hardwood.
" Hello?! Is anyone there?" He called out as he entered what seemed to be the greeting hall.
" I uh- have the pizza? You called for six pizzas. Are you okay? I heard a scream,"  his voice echoed.
What a great idea I thought, to explain to some obviously deranged person that you heard what no one else was supposed to hear. Again, his rubber converse lunged forward into a kitchen as he squinted his eyes.
"Hello? Is that you? Oh, I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm afraid you're going to have to pay for these. "
Silence.
Trey cleared his throat, "Ma'am? I'm sorry are you... Asleep?"
Was she asleep? I crawled ahead of him to examine the lady hunched over in the chair. I licked her face to see if she reacted. No reaction. Something wasn't right.... Her skin was deathly cold and her face drooped. Again I licked desperately. Tray slithered over, placed his thumb against her pulse.
"N-no pulse" he breathed. Suddenly the air seemed to get colder. This girl was dead.... Now that I closely examined her I saw that she had hand prints against her neck. She had been chocked. I looked up to Trey for reassurance, but his face was as hard as a rock as he stared in front of him outside the window. I followed his gaze and gasped sharply. Outside the window stood a pale white man. His eyes were stretched the farthest they could be, his red thin lips bared perfectly sharpened teeth. I looked up to Trey and he was pale. I began to desperately tug on his pant leg. Please.... I whimpered, but he wouldn't budge. The girl was obviously dead and this man.... This creature was most likely the cause of her death. Move! I pleaded and whimpered. I looked back up at the window and the man was gone.... He either left or came inside. Hopefully he left.. But I didn't want to be here to find out, so I started to tug on Trey. Finally, he got the hint and we started to walk back towards the front entrance, leaving the pizzas discarded. When he reached out for the door knob, an eery voice came from behind us. " Why are you leaving so soon?" Trey felt a cold brittle hand against his shoulder and a a hot breath against his neck.

Possessions

                                        Possessions

It's name was Tiger. He looked like a thrown up piece of crap, but I did not care how he looked to me. I liked the way his stringy hair bounced up and down as we ran all about. I love how he had the look of happiness on his shaggy lion face. But my favorite part about tiger was not his completion, but how he was a part of my wildest possessions.

Pigs

The curliest tail
Big nose grunting oink oink oink
Bacon will come soon

Thistle Prologue

Hello to all who will read this, I just want to preface this by saying thank you to all the people that are helping me write this all the way through. The early readers, encouraging me with positivity and ideas. My colleagues in the editor-in-chief position along with my blog publisher, of course editing. I also want it to be clear that this a work in progress and will be posted chapter by chapter. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy, and positive feedback is appreciated.



Prologue

I could hear them coming, the armor plates banging together as they slashed through the underbrush. Whatever happened, I couldn't let them take me. I was issued an urgent mission. I quickly summoned what was left of my magical energy and leapt through the knotted bark of a tree trunk and emerged into the canopy above. I fled with all of the force of fear and adrenaline behind me. My role as courier delivering my elders' message to a nearby tribe had been compromised. I must have made a mistake, for when I jumped to the next gargantuan branch of these ancient trees, a hail of arrows rained down upon me. Luckily none hit me. I kept running. But as I took my next step, my foot stopped and my ankle turned. I fell into a grove of aspens. I could not move, I heard the sounds of armor and saw rustling in the bush. Something broke through.