Edited by Doris Borges and Robert Soulivong

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SeaFood Boil - Adrianna Felton

Prince Naveen - Zamaya Gallegos-Walker

Mochi - Sound Oo

Serpent Masks - Neveah Gonzalez

Clay ceramic art from Hamilton's Clay Design class. Provided by Mr.Thao.

IMAGE CAPTION &#8211; Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Wandering through the graveyard, it felt like something was watching me. 	I usually cut through the local graveyard while heading home from school. I’m an aspiring poet, so the orderly tombstones and dreary atmosphere gives me just the inspiration I need. Even better, the sky above is dark and cloudy, it’s the perfect weather for a graveyard. However, the shortcut also gives me the opportunity to visit Effie, my best friend in the whole world. 	She was so smart, kind, and observant. She also came from an unfortunate family line with a heritage of deadly illness. Unfortunately, Effie was unlucky enough to inherit the symptoms of that unwanted heritage right after her fifteenth birthday. I don’t exactly know what the illness was specifically, but I know it ravaged her mind and body, turning her from the bright star she was to a husk of her former self, wasting away in a hospital bed. 	Her family made the decision to pull the plug a few months ago and, from what I heard, her funeral took place three days after. My father didn’t allow me to attend, for fear of Effie’s death driving me to madness— he was endlessly paranoid. However, thanks to our school’s informant—whose name I won’t say here because, as a rule I have, girls don’t tell on other girls—I learned that she was buried in the Angel Field Cemetery.

The Ghost of the Angel Field Cemetery-   by Kamaya Thomas

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Photo taken outside the Milwaukee Art Museum. Inspired by Tyler The Creator.

By: Robert Soulivong Jr.

Two panels from my own comic that I am writing and drawing. It is a military horror and will contain lots of sword fighting and magic.

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“Hello?! Effie, is that you?!” I exclaim. Soon, I hear another carving noise and turn to a different direction. Sitting in front of me is a different tree, with another word written on it, 	“Yep.” I can barely contain my joy. Effie was alive! 	…In a sense. 	“How have you been?” I ask. Instead of carving, I hear my backpack open. I then see my poetry book and a pen float out of the bag, see the book seemingly flipping its own pages, and the pen writes something. Right after that, the book drops into my hands and I see words written in the pages, 	“I’m doing fine, I guess. How about you?” 	“I think I can describe my feelings as… ambivalent. I’m writing poems as usual, and I’ve even been nominated for a poetry competition. But, everything feels dull and dreary now. Kind of like this graveyard we’re in.” My book floats from my hands again and Effie begins to write once more. When she finishes, she hands the book back to me. 	“Eloquent as usual, huh, Rebecca? I missed hearing you talk about stuff, y’know. It’s kind of like listening to a scholar.” I chuckle slightly and reply, 	“I appreciate the compliment.” We talk back and forth for what feels like hours, and I notice the sky becomes darker than it was before.

Perfect

Skinny Blonde Blue eyes That&nbsp;is perfect I&nbsp;am&nbsp;not&nbsp;perfect So I’ll lose weight Maybe skip a meal or two I can be skinny I’ll go to the salon Dye my hair&nbsp; I can be blonde I’ll go to the store Get some contacts I can have blue eyes I&nbsp;can&nbsp;be&nbsp;perfect But looking in the mirror I still look the same Yet I don’t look like her And I know she’s there&nbsp; Underneath the facade&nbsp; She’s there I think just maybe, kind of In some way I miss her She wasn’t blonde Or skinny &amp; blue eyed But she was me And&nbsp;I am perfect -Elena Perez

Zombie Marshmallow- Star Gibson

Peanut Butter Blossom- Hsar Eh Htoo

Chess Board- Cameron Mitchell

Only the Beginning by Yazmari Perez

Katie sniffles again before saying, “Really?” in a small shaky voice.&nbsp; 	“Yea, would you like to come with me?” I asked but she just looked away, back down into her lap.&nbsp; 	“What happened to your mom and dad?” I asked in a sigh.&nbsp; 	“They told me not to wander off,” Katie said while still looking down.&nbsp; 	“But I saw my favorite candy!! And I wanted to ask momma if I could get it but when I turned around she wasn’t there anymore…” she finished with a few tears rolling down her face. Katie looked at me abruptly and said, “And then I heard this big BOOM!!” She motions an explosion with her hands, “and I got scared so I came back to her…” Katie added as she put her gaze back down into her lap.&nbsp; 	“Well Katie, I am also left alone. I would love it if you'd come with me so we both aren’t lonely.” I said with a small smile.&nbsp; 	Katie looked up at me again slowly while wiping her eyes. She nodded her head then put her arms out for me to carry her.&nbsp; 	“Okay,” I say more to myself as I pick her up and put her on my hip.&nbsp; 	Katie and I started walking towards the front of the small store. Being met with the dirty sliding doors I remembered the air was too thick to breathe. Looking around I started walking to the cashier's desk and set Katie on it. 	“Okay Katie, the air is really thick outside right now so I need you to wear this,” I told her as I pull out one of the scarves from the book bag hanging on my shoulder.&nbsp; 	Katie whispered a little, “Okay,” as I proceeded to wrap the scarf around her mouth and nose.&nbsp;

Going for a Jog?

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I Went for a Jog, Hopefully to see the one I Love.&nbsp; But instead I saw Hell on earth. Animals running rapidly wild, mothers against daughters Fathers against Sons,the world Going crazy!&nbsp; Then I ran down the street just to see Ms. Raner,&nbsp; So I Screamed Loudly because I remembered&nbsp; She wrote me up for walking out of class.&nbsp; That was so scary! Scarier than the world going crazy!&nbsp;

Sushi Platter - Eliza Palacios

Masks - Jayla Jackson

Blue Steak - Michael King

Cabbage Vessel - Neveah Gonzalez

Donuts- Shalis Hart

Triple Scoop - Gigi Hernandez

Mask - Nathan Lor

Under the Sea - Calvin Williams

Summer of ‘23

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Hangin out the window Ridin in my black stolie&nbsp; Drop top, ridin no license Almost lost my life, final destinantion Ski mask pulled up, smith’n west Summer of ‘23, bring me the Lean Screamin because we dealin Boys dying in the streets What has this city become Kia boys have taken over Help us, We want our peace No more losin lives&nbsp; Save our young from being next Boys aren’t growing to be men Protect our youngs Bullets, no direct destination&nbsp; Life of the innocent taken too soon Night time of casos Trying to protect This isn’t a game for life or death

“There’s people over there Ava!! Look!! There’s other people!!” Katie exclaimed as she wiggled out of my arms, pulling her scarf over her face more and running towards the shadows in the distance.&nbsp; 	“Katie, wait!!” I yelled after her, chasing her towards the figures.&nbsp; 	As Katie and I got closer to the shadows in the dirt filled air I realized there’s more people than the air revealed. Catching up with Katie I grabbed her hand. 	“You can’t run away from me like that Katie. You don’t know what’s hidden in the dirty air.” I told her in a stern voice as I pulled her behind me, away from the shadows in the distance.&nbsp; 	“Who’s there!!” One of the shadows yelled to us. 	Katie held my hand tighter as we both stayed silent. The figure started to get closer to us and as it got closer more dirt, shadow, figures stepped into view. They were police officers and military men.&nbsp; 	“We’re not going to hurt you. We’re here to help” Another voice called out from behind a mask.&nbsp; 	Holding on to Katie’s hand still, I started to drag her behind me, slowly approaching them.&nbsp; 	“Are you guys the only ones?” It was the same guy that called out before asking. 	“Yea, we are,” I told him.&nbsp; 	“Okay, come with us and we’ll get you to a shelter that has some food and water for you guys. You’re safe,” he said. 	 Katie tugged on my hand, signaling me to look at her. As I looked down at her she put her arms up for me to carry her again. Picking her up I nodded my head at the military men, telling them to lead the way.&nbsp;

“BOOM!” A loud sound came from the back of the small store. I stood up, frantically looking around to see where it was coming from only to be met with nothing, just silence again.&nbsp; 	“HELLO?!” I yelled, but no reply back. About 30 seconds later I heard cries coming from the back of the store, I almost missed it. Slowly, I started walking towards the cries as I heard another “BOOM!” making me jump, my adrenaline going crazy.&nbsp;&nbsp; 	I yelled again, “HELLO?!!” making the cry from the back intensify. 	As I tightly gripped the backpack, I picked up my pace and looked down all the aisles in the back of the store only to be met with a little girl. Sitting in the corner by the cooler that holds the drinks, with her knees to her chest and her head down, crying. She seemed frightened from the random loud noises. 	“Hey,” I lowered my voice as I slowly approached the little girl. She looked up at me with glossy eyes but didn't say anything, just sniffles.&nbsp; 	“Do you know where your parents are?” I whispered to her but it only made her cry out more. 	“Hey, hey, hey. No, it's okay.” I&nbsp; said as I rubbed one of her knees softly.&nbsp; 	“What’s your name?” I asked, looking into the little girl's teary eyes. 	Her lip wobbled a bit as she said, “Katie,” in a tiny voice.&nbsp; 	“Hi Katie, nice to meet you! I’m Ava and I’m on a….” I paused trying to think of something to tell her.&nbsp; 	“I’m on an adventure!” I told her in an enthusiastic voice to cheer her up a bit.&nbsp; 	“Yea, I’m trying to find people to help me with this adventure because I can’t do it alone.” I said to her with a sad face.&nbsp;

Since then, I’ve been taking a little longer to get home because I’m trying to find her grave. 	…But I digress 	My point is that I’ve never felt any sort of presence here before, so I’m wondering if someone’s following me. On the one hand, I really hope it’s a ghost (or, better yet, Effie’s ghost), on the other hand… I really hope it’s not a person—or, god forbid my dad stalking me from the bushes in a bout of overprotectiveness—following me. I decide to grab something to defend myself with, but all I can find is a rusty crowbar leaning against a mausoleum. 	…But I guess that’ll do. As soon as I grab the crowbar, the presence disappears. 	“That was weird.” I think to myself, before continuing my search for Effie’s grave. It had rained a few days before, so the ground below is a mixture of semi-dried dirt and watery mud puddles that are somehow sticky enough to cling onto and bespatter my boots. As I keep on walking, I start to question if this is the correct graveyard Effie’s buried in. It doesn’t feel right, I could even describe the feeling as off, but who knows. Maybe it’s just the same feeling from before. 	Dodging and zig-zagging around headstones, I arrive at one that has Effie’s name on it, and a small epitaph,

The wind swirled around me and the world went silent. Everyone seemed to disappear into the thick air. It was like a magic trick that was performed on the whole town, the magician setting off a smoke bomb to disappear at the end of the show, never to be seen again. The town’s never been this quiet, it’s always lively with the hot sun shining down on everyone and the kids running around in the square playing with water. Everything seemed dull now, shunned, hidden by the thick, dirt air. It made me choke. I needed to find something to cover my face fast and maybe someone who knows what's going on. If there was even anyone left.&nbsp; 	Walking down the street, stores, small bakeries, and fruit stands, lined the sides of the small road with no one attending them. I decided to walk into the closest store to my left to take some type of shelter or maybe even find a scarf to help me breathe outside. I couldn’t see inside the small store but when I walked near the doors they slid open, inviting me to walk in. Nobody’s in here either, not even the cashier.&nbsp; 	“This is really weird…” I mumbled to myself as I continued walking through the small store trying to find scarves. It only took me a few seconds to find the right aisle. Bending down I decided to take a few of them off the shelf just in case. 	“I’ll probably need a bag to carry this” I mumbled to myself as I went down the multiple aisles to find one, carrying a bunch of scarves in my arms. Walking down one of the aisles I saw a black book bag that looked like it could carry a lot, something I might need so I grabbed it. As I stuffed the bag with scarves I heard something that’s different from the eerie silence.

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After I finished wrapping the scarf around Katie I continued to grab one out for me to protect my face as well. Wrapping the scarf around my face, tucking in the extra pieces, and closing the bag, I picked up Katie and leave the small store with her on my hip.&nbsp; 	The air was still thick with dirt, the wind was still swirling it around, and the world was still quiet. Katie rested her head on my shoulder and her breath got slower as she slowly let sleep take over her tiny form.&nbsp; 	“It’s probably from all that crying,” I thought to myself as I continued walking.&nbsp; 	There had to be a police station nearby and there was no way everyone disappeared. The nearest police station was a few houses down from the town square which isn’t far from where Katie and I were. As we continued walking, Katie asleep in my arms, I heard another “BOOM!”, the loud noise startling her and causing me to duck down with her just in case.&nbsp; 	“What was that Ava?” Katie said in a shaky voice, her heart beat against my shoulder quickening.&nbsp; 	“I don’t know, but we’re almost to the square to see if we can find some help.” I told Katie as I looked around.&nbsp; 	She didn’t say anything, just laid her head back on my shoulder and adjusted the scarf on her face in the process. Standing back up from being crouched down and with Katie still on my hip, we started walking into the square. As we continued walking, Katie lifted her head off my shoulders to point at something in the distance, where the police station is.&nbsp;

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“It looks like it’s getting dark,” Effie comments, “Or it’s about to rain. You should probably head home now.” 	“I know.” I reply, standing up from the stone I was sitting on, “But I don’t wish to leave you again.” 	“It’s alright, Rebecca. You can visit me tomorrow.” Effie wrote. I nod, say farewell to Effie, put away my things, and head out of the graveyard. 	As soon as I reach the entrance of the Angel Field Cemetery, I hear a scraping sound. To my surprise, I see the words “See you tomorrow, Rebecca! And good luck in that poetry competition!” written on the fence. I smile and reply, “Thank you!” 	It’s a nice reminder that, while Effie is dead, she isn’t truly gone.

“Effie Joyner. Born–October 15th, 2006, Died—November 22nd, 2022.” I was a little annoyed by it. Effie wanted me to write her epitaph but, thanks to my dad and Effie’s mom, I didn’t get to. But, the headstone seems… unfamiliar. 	“Was she always buried here?” I think to myself as I look down at what’s supposed to be her grave. A bone-rattling chill is sent through my body, causing me to look around. 	“Why is she not here?!” I say to myself, looking down at the now empty grave. Something in the distance catches my eye, a shadow peeking from behind the tree. 	“Is that the thing that was watching me?” I think to myself as I looked down at Effie’s grave one last time to follow the shadow. As I approach the tree, the presence gets stronger. The shadow is gone, but the feeling of it here is something I’ve never felt before. Something alien and almost unnerving. 	Turning the corner, around the tree, I see something carved into the bark. A word: 	“Hello.” It’s creepy, sure, but also slightly comforting. I recognize the handwriting the carving is showing. The loop in the letter “O”, the way the word slants to the right, and the telltale way the “L’s” are written gives me the realization that this is Effie’s handwriting. Since that’s true, that must mean that the presence I felt and the shadow behind the tree were also Effie! But, I have to confirm it.

No description here sorry :(.

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