2019 Youth Summer Writing Camp Anthology: Volume 4

By Aika Lanes I got gum in my hair. I’m cutting it out, ‘Cause I don’t really care. I chew &amp; chew &amp; chew some more. I go through 4 more packs of gum. I go to bed and start to snore, Then wake up thinking Let’s have some fun Then I realize I’m not chewing gum. I look around and touch my hair, I stretch gum out on my thumb. I walk to the bathroom and with a wave, I whip out a razor and start to shave.

Yellow Group Circle Poem 3

Yellow Group Circle Poem 4

Mary opened Wanda’s neck; Gory red arteries snapped silently A heartbeat slowing to a sudden stop A final labored breath It’s the end A final note Wanda is dead, Mary has been arrested&nbsp; Mary tried to summon a demon and escape She summoned Wanda instead Wanda was unamused It was the third time that week She tapped her foot impatiently And crossed her arms Her patience had run out The long wait made her frustrated Finally, the doctor called her name

In victory he sets the bar higher Clever, and too ambitious for his own good His heart is heavy and his mantle&nbsp; weighs upon his shoulders He felt as though a thousand bricks were being carried on his back He looked back and discovered he was Gone Nowhere to be found Within a realm that I never thought existed I have learned that many myths are real Magical creatures too. My world has been flipped around How did I not realize these truths before? He lies sweeter than honey His touch softer than silk&nbsp; A deceitful monster An honest angel The end of the world Burning fires

By Ollie King Hello! My name is Anty and I am an ant. I just a crazy day so I thought I would share it. Ok, so it all started this morning. I got up and got dressed, ate, did my hair which looks fabulis. And I brushed my teeth. (Ant heigene is very important.) Then I went for my morning walk but thats when I encountered the dog. He and his owner were out on a morning jog. Well the dog saw me and started chasing me. Well I’m not in my best shape so couldn’t get away. I guess it also could have been my tiny legs. The dog stared me down. He opened his mouth and let his tongue fall out. I screamed and tried to run but I didn’t get far. He lick 7 times before the owner called him. And yes I was counting my life was endanger. After that I was hungry so I started walking but it started to rain. the rain picked me up and carried me away. All the way into a seawige drain. I was able to hang on to the edge and with my awesome strength I pulled myself up.

Ok if I’m being truthful it look me 2 tries. Ok fine! 15. And by the time I got home it was dinner. So I got myself some grass and cheese and ate. I love my grass and cheese. then I put my PJs and hopped into bed and the TV on. Spongebob ant pants! My favorite show. Well I should get to bed. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. 

Thanks for reading Happy trails! -Anty

The waterline rose as the ship sank, and the holes let in even more water. The sailors who still remained on deck were running about. Some abandoned ship, some cowered in fear, some were taken by the monster’s appendages. Bennett thought he heard someone exclaiming that the captain was dead. It was a moment before he realised that George was talking to him through the grate. “I need to free the rowboats or they’ll go down with the ship!” Bennett mulled this over in his mind and decided that he would have to leave the cabin in order to survive the attack. He would have to head into the war zone to escape. “Go! I’m right behind you!” George simply nodded as he got to his feet. Bennett heard the slapping of his feet as his friend ran towards the stern where the rowboats were kept. Bennett hesitated at the bottom of the ladder before placing his foot on the first step. He wouldn’t know if his friend made it to the rowboats.

The ship emitted a loud groan and there was the creaking of wood and the splashing of water. Bennett nearly lost his balance as gravity reversed, but he caught himself by securing a firm grip on the ladder with both hands. The ship was tipping backwards. Soon, the deck was tilted 40 degrees. It was sinking into the ocean stern first. The tentacles that had wrapped themselves around the deck had released themselves now, and they hovered above the waves as if the monster was just sitting back to enjoy the show. As the ship tilted even more drastically, Bennett clung to the ladder with white knuckles as the other sailors in the cabin began to tumble towards the stern along with anything that wasn’t bolted to the floor. As the ship continued to tip, becoming terribly unbalanced, Bennett watched through the ladder entrance in horror as one of the massive tentacles reared back, preparing to deliver a killing blow to the maimed vessel. Bennett braced himself against the ladder for the incoming strike.

They had drifted much further than they believed. When they emerged onto the deck, the group was greeted by the stars and a few crewmates who lay gaping at the sky. They stirred upon the captain’s entrance, but their sudden outbreak of chatter was stifled by their leader’s voice. “Though our situation is grim,” the captain began, “luck is still with us. For a small trading vessel to be able to withstand that storm, for us humble sailors to be able to brave the tempest that would have sent others to the bottom of the sea, we are still in God’s waters. Now we shall set out to sail—” “But captain! What about the stars?” A crewmate exclaimed. “And what about them? We’ll find the North Star and we’ll position ourselves from there.” For the first time, Bennett turned his face heavenward as the captain droned on. Something wasn’t right. “Sir,” he interrupted, “there is no North Star.”

The majority of that night was spent searching the stars, trying to find a recognizable constellation or alignment. Anything to provide the comforts of familiarity. As the crew tried to create Orion out of a bundle of stars, George recalled that the sun had set in the east last night. This was dismissed by the others as disorientation following the storm, but Bennett began to think that the sun had set on the wrong side of the ocean when he looked back at it. That night, the crew slept restlessly under an unfamiliar sky. II In the morning, a thick fog had engulfed the sea. The sun rose in the west, verifying the recollection that George had shared the previous night. They began sailing east for Europe or maybe Africa. Bennett knew they wouldn’t find it. The ghostly fog greatly reduced their speed. Unable to see further than eight feet off the bow, they feared that the hull would be torn apart by invisible rocks. Along with this fog

As Wanda left the room, Mary couldn’t help but think that Wanda was an almost perfect hostess—maybe too perfect. XXX The next morning, Mary came down to the sitting room. Wanda was waiting. “It’s really coming down out there, you won’t be able to leave for a while.”&nbsp; “Yes—when’s breakfast ready?” “Soon” “Good, how many other people are here?” “Just you, darling.” XXX Near noon, Mary noticed something strange. She was reading a book when she overheard Wanda say something from the kitchen. “In this weather I’ll never be able to get out to the poison.”

A dark thought crossed Mary’s mind. What if Wanda was going to kill her? Later, Mary asked Wanda about what she overheard. “Oh, there are rats everywhere in this place. I was worried that I would be unable to obtain any rat poison.” “Okay, one other thing. Why did everything else leave?” “There was an accident.” Mary was starting to get suspicious. Part II - The Root of Evil The previous night had passed in silence. Mary’s situation continued to grow.

By Xavier Klaphake I take the ball from half court only seconds to spare. I can see every eye in the crowd on me. A drop of sweat falls from my head time has slown down. Everyone in oracle arena watches as the ball sails through the net. Time has returned to normal and cheers and hoots and hollers echo through the building. Teammates high five and pat each other on the back. That night I rest easy.&nbsp;

By Heidi Rich A breathtaking alien with pizzoid flesh oozed saliva. I barely escaped his embrace using plungers. I was the detached from the alternate reality with popping sounds. I was upside down looking in my mom’s glittering gaze with air hungry lungs unfurled. She gave me a grain of rice, a small watermelon, and an octopus, Fuffy.&nbsp;

came creatures that skimmed the surface of the water, rubbing up against the side of the boat. Most of the crew passed them off as sharks, but Bennett and George thought otherwise. The water had taken on an oddly dark tint ever since they escaped the storm, and it was hard to tell what lurked beneath. “We’re not just lost at sea,” Bennett wrote in his journal. “I do not believe we sail God’s waters anymore, contrary to what the captain says. We are sailing dark tides.” Bennett was below decks playing a gloomy game of cards. It had been a day since the fog had arrived, and visibility had only gotten worse. The crew was tense, and a couple of men were plotting a mutiny over their game. Bennett hated to admit it, but he had begun to consider mutiny as the best course of action. They had to do something. “He’s put us on half rations,” the sailor William said. “Half rations! We’ll starve. And worse yet, I don’t even think we’re moving, he’s got us going so slow in this fog. How’re we supposed to get to land at this rate?”

“Oh, come off it,” Bennett snapped over his hand of cards. He secretly agreed with William, however. But he would still do his best to keep up his illusion of integrity and loyalty. At least until the captain really had to go. He suddenly hated himself for that. George nodded approvingly. “We’ve hardly been lost for any time at all. And you forget that we’re a trading vessel. If supplies get low, we can always start drawing resources from the shipments. I trust the captain, and you should too.” Suddenly there was the splashing of water outside, waves crashing upon themselves. There were shouts from above deck. Bennett ran to the ladder and peered through its entrance. Massive tentacles rose from the sea, water running from their slimy skin that gleamed sickeningly. There was a crash and the ship rocked back and forth so violently that Bennett was knocked off his feet. He tumbled to a stop underneath the grate hatch fixed to the ceiling that supplied a view to the gray sky above. One of the tentacles reared back, and Bennett watched helplessly as it slammed down upon the deck and exercised its powerful grip

by Petyon Summerhill A shadow ran down the path to the&nbsp;beach, racing with inhuman grace. It flickered oddly as it passed through shady pools cast by towering, crooked trees which lined the trail. Long grasses embedded in the sandy soil stirred as it passed, as if awakening from an age old sleep, but it was merely a breath of wind, for they did not settle for a time, even after the shadow had gone by. That splash of darkness marred smooth, pale sand as it moved, a whisper unnoticed by all. The seashore was deserted, for at midday in the height of summer the sun’s heat was unforgiving. The shadow found a log, hollow and cold, which lay still and dead upon the sand. It slipped down and disappeared, invisible within the shade.

For a single bare moment, it seemed like there was nothing especially notable about the scene, while another gust of wind made the grass and the leaves on the trees ripple. But the shadow reared up out of the empty husk of the log. In that second, a cloud wafted before the sun and the shadow paled, taking on a smoky, strangely textured look. A sudden shout of innocent, childlike laughter could be heard in the thin light and echoed sharply across the sand from an unknown source hidden in the trees before fading into the empty air.&nbsp; The eerie moment had passed; the cloud moved on and the sun resumed beating down on the sand. The shadow, which had paused, slipped closer to the surf.

Lobsteretta appeared on the screen, looking very pretty. All the lobsters in the audience moved towards the front of their seats.&nbsp; “I have very pretty whiskers,” she bragged. “Lobster Whiskers Company helped me grow these beautiful, long, thin whiskers. Only 78 gold pieces a whisker, get them now!” Helga jumped up from her seat and shot a stun spell at the Lobsteretta. A scream was heard from someone in the audience.&nbsp; “Don’t shoot a stun spell at me!” shouted a high, pretty voice from a private balcony. “Especially when my whiskers are curled and I’m on the screen!” Lobsteretta looked at Helga, seriously. “You’ll also ruin my day at the movie theater watching all the films that I have starred in!” Helga shot a stun spell towards the real Lobsteretta.&nbsp; “Aghhhhh!” groaned Lobsteretta as she fell over the railing of her balcony and fell dramatically into the audience.

Helga duct taped her pincers in a way that wouldn’t let the pincers go back and forth to strangle her. She then put the stunned lobster in her bathrobe pocket.&nbsp; Helga looked around at the audience, who were all staring at her. “Whatcha lookin’ at?” She spat, then flew on her mop.&nbsp; Helga arrived at her hole. She jumped into it and started eating a bag of frowg chips that she found lying on the ground. She took out Lobsteretta from her pocket and put her in a bucket. All of a sudden, a lobster with a cowboy hat and a whip jumped into the hole and shouted, “Gimme a hot dog! Oh, and also gimme Lobsteretta!” Helga just offered him her bag of chips and the cowboy refused to have it. Helga walked over to the bucket and put it on the highest shelf there was in the hole. “If you can reach her with your whiskers, you can have her and the hot dog,” she said.

Yellow Group Circle Poem 5

Yellow Group Circle Poem 6

Tiny arms not built for his ravenous stereotype A real myth in the history of time. He gets an arm transplant, But instantly regrets it The arm has a mind of its own He almost sticks it in the toaster He pulls back at the last second Who knows how dangerous it could be His face shames him And he turns run He can feel the red flush of embarrassment climbing up his face As his feet pound loudly against the pavement “Why, oh why did I take that dare?” he wondered But it was too late All that was left was regret It swept over him as the ground gave way

Bright light under eery existence Creeps hollowly onward It flows between bushes and trees There is a cat in the woods His eyes are wide and tail erect Something is coming A charging roar disrupts the trees&nbsp; He braces himself for the worst Barreling through the trees came a large black bear who lunged toward him He held up a hand&nbsp; And blocked the bear with a magical force field So no harm came to him He continued his journey Leaving behind his memories Memories that will fade over time Everyone is eventual forgotten

He picked up his clothes sweaty clothes and walked over the cave. He then got dressed and walked over to one of the baskets and pulled out an apple. As he bit into it his body began to heat up. A flash of raw power boiled inside of him and Ashton gritted his teeth. His head began to pound and his hands began to burn. His chest felt like liquid fire and Aston dropped the apple and clenched his hands into fists even though it hurt to. His whole body began to glow and burn.&nbsp; Ashton felt the brush of fur against his legs but barely. He could feel Cou begin to slither down to his chest and slightly squeeze.&nbsp; Tears began to flow down Ashton’s cheek and a sob made its way out of his throat. Ashton fell to the ground and bit into his wrist as he felt the power build up and intensify.

The taste of metal began to assault his mouth and Ashton bit harder. He couldn’t keep doing this. Couldn’t keep up with it. Aston felt the power in him suddenly explode and he screamed in pain. His head spun and his body felt like it was being ripped apart. He bit into his wrist harder to muffle his screams. All the while he could faintly feel Akina and Cou trying to help him by lessening the pain. After what seemed like forever Ashton felt the burst of power fade. Ashton blinked once and then fell to the ground of the cave, tired from the excruciating pain. The last thing Ashton thought was that he just wanted to die. Because no one could help him.

by Grace Richmond The forest was silent. No birds sang. No wolves howled. Not even a cricket chirped. No trees swayed in the wind It seemed like the forest was holding its breath. Waiting for something to happen. And it did. The sound of pounding hooves suddenly echoed through the forest. The loud hollers of men yelling at each other scared away animals. Then there was the rush of footsteps. The sound of someone out of breath. A figure ran through the forests. Amber eyes faintly glowing in the dark, constantly looking for enemies.&nbsp;Ashton Mercy panted for air as he ran. A bag with stolen goods banged against his hips making them ache.

His lungs burned and his legs ached but he didn’t dare stop. Stopping would mean torture. Stopping meant death. ‘Just a bit farther’ He told himself over and over. The small cave that he had come to occupied was his only safe place. It had been his home for the last twelve years. The cave was hidden behind a small passage that was hidden in a canopy of rocks. It was hard to see unless you were looking for it. Ashton finally saw the canopy ahead. The sound of hooves was becoming closer and so was the shouting. Ashton pushed himself to go faster while whispering a single word from his mind. “Immunuro” Behind him the sound of creaking filled the air. There were a couple shouts before a loud crash echoed through the forest.

The tentacle flew into the starboard side of the ship with full power. The ship tipped to the left so drastically that the few sailors still clinging to the sides of the deck all soared towards watery graves. Bennett barely held onto the ladder as splinters dug into his palms. The ship was frozen for a moment, shifted dangerously to the left and trying to decide which way it was going to tip. The water flooding the vessel made the final decision, crashing to the portside and shifting the weight in the hull. The ship capsized and Bennett was flung from the ladder, hitting his head on the lip of the ladder’s opening before plummeting into the water and losing consciousness as he sunk beneath the surface and the last of the vessel, and the sea monster, disappeared .&nbsp; Bennett woke to find himself tangled in the ship’s rigging, bound to the mast as it carried him to the bottom of the sea. He struggled against the ropes, but he sank into a loose sail and Bennett was quickly enveloped in its white folds. He clawed at the sails that had closed around him, creating a cocoon that served more as a coffin.

Bennett’s ears popped as he was carried deeper. His breath was running out. Bennett twisted and squirmed, kicking about. Then he found an opening in the sails and slipped free from his bindings. He had sunk far beneath the surface and Bennett swam as fast as he could, propelling himself upwards through the dark water. He fought to reach the top. As he neared his escape, Bennett gave out. Water filled his lungs and burned his throat, then, without even realizing it at first, he reached the surface. As soon as Bennett finished coughing up the swallowed salt water, he began drinking the sky, chasing the pain in his chest away with large gulps of air. When he was done, Bennett splashed around, searching the waves for survivors or trace of the monster. The water wasn’t cold, but he was shivering. Bennett had to get out as fast as possible. And there he saw it: his salvation. Bobbing above the surface about twenty feet away was&nbsp;a lone rowboat, floating among the waves. Whether George had succeeded in freeing at least one rowboat,

By Ethan Randash There is a kid named Flower, but he does not like flowers. What he likes most is pot-roast, and he likes it with his toast. He really enjoys it the most. He has a pet ostrich. His ostrich plays the oboe. The oboe is optimistic. He is sick. He likes to eat a stick. The stick can bake ham. Which brings us back to bacon. From where he has the bacon He has the Tinsley house. The Tinsley house is tired And so is the tiger.&nbsp;

By Ethan Randash In a dry-plain desert there was a copperhead who lived in a hole where there were only skulls and bones to keep him well fed. This copperhead was mean.&nbsp;He was not the king of the desert, but he kept the desert running through its blood and pain. The rattlesnake slithered into the copperhead’s hole.&nbsp;“You better hit the dirt because that’s what I’ve been told.&nbsp;You’ve been causin’ us too much pain.” The copperhead was in plain darkness with his red tongue flicking and yellow eyes burning.&nbsp;The copperhead shot the rattler a glare and spoke, “You know if we teamed up, nothing would be fair.&nbsp;You and I would rule the desert and show the humans who is at the top of the chain.”

Yellow Group Circle Poem 1

Energy and love of life&nbsp; Completely regretted past Silence to avoid the strife To make the moment last Time disappears before you know it And you miss what really matters It’s too late to go back You left the important thing behind Driving on a winding country road The light of the next town approaching fast I stopped for the night They said, “Welcome to the Hotel California” It’s a lovely place It’s a lovely place What a lovely face&nbsp; What a lovely face I want to&nbsp;steal it I’ll have your face soon Pinned to the timber wall Cheeks stretched thin

Yellow Group Circle Poem 2

Dark mind&nbsp; Empty house and echoing halls Not brave Terrible at&nbsp; everything Don’t let that get you down; Everyone has a hidden talent You just have to find yours Maybe go to a fortune teller A seer might show you the way But ultimately you must trust yourself That’s what a grandmother told her But her doubts threaten to overwhelm Her mind spills with overwhelming thoughts filling She screams as the images from that night flood back The air grows thin As if she were under water

Students flooded out of the room handing in their unfinished papers as they went. With all my things already packed I slid out of my desk and handed my exam to Mrs. Marie before exiting the room into the small, crowded hallway. When I emerged outside it quickly came to realization that it was drizzling rain and a bigger storm was on it’s way. I tucked my bookbag in between my arm and hip before hurrying to my bicycle.&nbsp; Placing my book bag in the basket at the back of my bike I hop on and set off as the wind picks up. Riding home I struggle to see ahead of me as the rain comes down much more violently. Suddenly thunder booms and lightning flashes to my left. You wouldn’t believe how fast this storm picked up but in just a few moments it was pouring and I was soaked. I picked up the speed of my peddling and set off at a faster pace while fat drops of rain exploded on my face and back. I scowled and kept on riding as I started down the road to my home. Just another minute or two of riding until I get home…

Going even faster now, fierce winds whipped at my face and rain water blurred my eyes when suddenly I started going downhill. Of course! The downhill drop! I tried to slow the bike with no avail and I soon realized that the gear chain had come loose. Panic engulfed me and I tried jamming my right foot down into the slippery ground but at first my foot scraped right off. Upon second attempt I jammed my foot down harder, this time with the heel first, There was a sudden jolt as my bike leaned right before sliding to it’s side. Making a wild ‘bail for it’ I toppled to the pavement just as the bike crashed to the ground. Laying in the middle of the road I fixed my eyes on the wrecked vehicle and my blue bookbag strewn across the ground not to far away. Quickly getting to my feet I started to shiver and upon glancing at my shirt I found the entire front to be completely drenched in water from a puddle.&nbsp;Surveying the damage I then found that I sported only two skinned knees and a possibly bruised elbow.

The rattlesnake scowled and gave his rattle a shake, not at all wanting to participate with this other nasty snake.&nbsp; &nbsp; The copperhead spoke, “You can rattle all you want, but all I see is you a tremblin’ with fear.” &nbsp; “Let’s take this outside,” hissed the rattler. &nbsp; The rattler wanted to be done, but the copperhead was just starting to have his fun. &nbsp; The copperhead followed the rattler’s lead and deep down wanted to make him bleed. &nbsp; They met the daylight and locked eyes.&nbsp; Only one of them would stay alive. &nbsp; From the skies they heard the death-cry of the raptor who would decide which one would live and which one would die.

Before they could show their fangs, the raptor swooped down and made his claim.&nbsp; But, it missed. &nbsp; Both snakes looked up and saw the bird.&nbsp; Its talons of terror approached again. &nbsp; The talons pierced deep into the copper but not deep enough to make him die. &nbsp; “You may think I’m gone,” the copperhead cried.&nbsp; “…but not really.&nbsp; I’m just movin’ along.”&nbsp;

or if it had freed itself in the capsizing, it was there.&nbsp;Bennett swam as fast as he could, using the last of his remaining strength to catch the rowboat which slowly drifted away. Once he clambered into the boat, he heard a pained gurgle from beneath the surface, struggling for air. “George?” he called. “George!” But the sound had vanished and the ocean was silent. The last of the crew had disappeared beneath the waves. He waited a long time for someone to surface. No one did. After four long days of drifting through the unfamiliar ocean, of being harassed by the birds he had seen on his first day after the storm and keeping the strange creatures who circled his boat underwater at bay, the last survivor of a humble trading vessel that had strayed a long way from home pitched a bottle into the sea. The bottle carried a piece of worn parchment on which the sailor had recounted the strange events that had led to his ill-fated situation. He could only hope that the message made it back to the world he knew.&nbsp;

By James Weinheimer 1945 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I set the quill on to my desk before leaning back in my small wooden chair when all of a sudden something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned my head to see a ladybug on the outside of the window by my desk. Fascinated, I took a closer look at the little red creature before it took flight and zipped off in a blur. “Cindy? Are you still with us?” My teachers voice startled me and I nodded before dipping my quill in black as night ink. How was I supposed to pay attention to the exams when such a secret had been handed to me along with the responsibility of protecting it? I just couldn’t keep my mind off of my father’s experiments&nbsp;as the first students handed in their finished exams just as Mrs. Marie declared that the school day was over. I sighed relieved and started packing up my things in my bookbag. “Alright students, hand in your exams, we can finish them after the weekend. Thank you.”

A Rainy Day In Boston

By Peyton Summerhill Vrennan marched quickly, not caring where he was going. Anger surged through him. He rushed blindly forward, deeper into the trees, wanting only to escape. He was off the dirt road now, crushing increasingly dense foliage with his unwary footsteps. The world around him was beautiful, the mountains flooded with pines, their lofty branches reaching up into the cloud-filled sky. But Vrennan was oblivious to the picturesque landscape. He was lost in endless masses of anger. Vrennan and his parents had been fighting for almost two weeks about his coming of age. They expected him to marry right away and take up a suitable career near home. Vrennan himself had planned on hiking to a faraway town and beginning an apprenticeship doing something he enjoyed. Turning fifteen was going to be the beginning of the rest of his life.

His parents were trying to trap him, keep him close, available, and he could almost understand, but he needed an open world. He needed to get lost in order to find himself. Vrennan hoisted his bag into a more stable position on his shoulder and fought on through the dense forest, his mind still clouded in thought and emotion. He kept hearing his father’s words, try as he might to forget them. He struggled to convince himself that it didn’t matter. He had planned on leaving, and being forced out a month early made little difference. Vrennan made another attempt to block everything out and pushed onward. Four nights later, Vrennan sat still, his eyes fixed in a small, bright, fire. He was hungry and tired, and he regretted not taking any food when his parents forced him out. He had seen a small herd of elk the day before, but, despite the wasted afternoon, had not managed to bring any down.

Because he was not normal. And sometimes people who didn’t like not normal people or didn’t understand the did what they did best. Got rid of them. Aston closed his eyes and scrowled. He didn’t ask for this. Never wanted it. It was annoying. With a sigh he carefully unwrapped Cou and placed him on a branch that was attached to a small tree Ashton had grown in the cave. He made his way outside and walked over to the small lake. There was the rustle of clothes as Ashton shredded his clothes and stepped into the cool water. He slowly walked into the water and stopped when the water reached his shoulders. Ashton let out a small moan as his body began to relax for all the stress.&nbsp; The water caressed his skin. His shoulder length hair almost looked silver in the moonlight.

Ashton cupped the water and splashed it into his face to wash away the sweat. The coldness woke him up a bit. He looked around the small lake until his eyes settled on a patch of purple Silkweeds. Ashton slowly raised his hand and curled his fingers in a beconing way. Two of the flowers parted from the others and made they’re way towards him. He picked it up and tilted it slightly.&nbsp;Violet nectar began to drip into Ashton’s open palm. He put down the flower and quickly washed his hair. Every now and then he had to pull some grass or twigs out from where they were stuck. The whole time his marks glowed a light blue that light up the water. Ashton saw looked down and his eyes widened. He quickly finished and then picked up the cloth that was hanging on a rock and dried off.

Dedicated to the brilliant writers found in this anthology. Thank you for sharing!

* Disclaimer: All written text in this anthology has been produced by the writers. The images are from other talented people.

* Gum in My Hair by Aika Lanes * Lobsteretta and Helga by Aika Lanes * Slow Down by Xavier Klaphake * Alternate Reality by Heidi Rich * Untitled Poem by Ethan Randash * The Showdown by Ethan Randash * The Halls by Peyton Summerhill * A Shadow by Peyton Summerhill * Vrennan's Beginning by Peyton Summerhill * The World Was Still by Peyton Summerhill * A Poem by Dylan Silber * Mown Grass by Dylan Silber * Clover * Descendants of the Lost by Grace Richmond * Dark Tides by James Weinheimer * A Rainy Day in Boston by James Weinheimer * Yellow Group Poems * Anty by Ollie King

continued to push, and George thrashed around beneath its mighty weight. It was at this moment that a stroke of courage bolstered him, surging through Bennett’s body, taking control of his limbs. Bennett snatched up a plank of wood, sharpened at one end, and rammed it through a gap in the grating, spearing the fleshy skin. The tentacle simply crushed down with more power, yielding a scream from George and shifting the hatch, threatening to burst straight through the deck. Bennett withdrew the stake and plunged it even more forcefully into the monster. He felt it sink deep into the flesh before the slimy skin closed in tightly around the weapon. He pushed with all of his might and felt the skin give way as the stake punctured its squishy layers. There was a horrible screech and green blood seeped through the grating, dotting Bennett’s forehead. The tentacle withdrew, taking the stake with it.

A moment later, the enraged beast burst into the second deck, two tentacles splintering through the wall as water flooded the cabin. The appendages thrashed around wildly, searching for its prey. With water spilling over the floor, the occupants huddled on the opposite side of the cabin as the enraged mass. One of the tentacles brushed William and then found him once more, winding its way up his leg before dragging him out through the hole from which it came. William’s screams were drowned out as he slipped beneath the waves. The others prayed that they wouldn’t have the misfortune of being found by the one remaining tentacle. To the relief of the survivors, it quickly withdrew.&nbsp; Bennet let out a sigh of relief and scrambled to his feet. The water was lapping above his ankles. He faintly heard George call his name over the destruction and Bennett looked up to see his friend still lying prone on the grate, his fingers wound through the gaps in the metal. Bennett realised that the two tentacles grappling the ship were beginning to pull it into the sea.

By Dylan Silber Part I - A Friendly Hostel The town was little and old, the only sign of technology being the tracks that ran through the small station. All the trains were cancelled for the next few days until the storm passed over. Mary had been on her way to Leeds when the train stopped at this station. The storm was of humongous proportion, one of the biggest of the century. All trains were required to stop at the nearest town. Now Mary was trapped in&nbsp;tiny village for several days. The railway paid for a hostel. It was a nice little place, you walked into a sitting room with a blazing hearth and nice comfy sofas and chairs. The furniture was a nice dark green and so were the walls, in fact, almost the whole room was green. It was like sitting in the forest. The hostess welcomed Mary kindly with a smile. She had fine, light gray hair and bright puffy lips. Her nose was strait.

All her features were small and her body was short and plump. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall. She wore a dark blue coat and matching skirt. Other than her pale fair skin, she looked like a blueberry. “I am so glad to welcome you to my hostel; how long will you be staying?” “Oh, not very long—I’m only staying until the storm passes over, then I’m on the first train to Leeds.” “The railway is paying for your stay, I presume.” “Yes, that is so.” The hostess showed Mary her room. “Dinner has already been served, but I could get you something to snack on.”&nbsp; “No I’m perfectly fine. Thank you Ms. --” “Wanda, just call me Wanda.” “Thank you Wanda.”

Hurriedly making my way of the road I grabbed my bag and dragged my bike into the grass at the side of the pavement just as a pair of bright headlights emerged from the darkness. I pulled my bike up for the ride home when: “Cindy!” I turned back around to see my father stepping out of his car parked at the side of the road. He rushed to me in his raincoat and hustled me to the back seat of the black automobile. “You’re soaked,” he muttered,”There is a blanket to your left.” Sure enough there was a gray blanket in the seat next to me and I wrapped it around my body as father hurried to my bike. My book bag is probably a mess now, I thought sourly. Suddenly a bumping sound from behind caused me to look out the back window where I saw father placing my bike in the trunk which he then sealed shut. Father came around and dropped my bookbag through the window to my right before plopping down in the driver's seat and starting the car.

On the way back home no words were exchanged, father seemed very uneasy and he kept flicking his eyes up to the rearview mirror. I would’ve asked what was wrong but I was upset about wiping out. Once we pulled into the driveway the both of us made a run for the door and we burst inside before father went straight for the basement where he kept his experiments. “Father! Whats going on!” I yelled down the stairs as he ran up balancing vials and beakers in his arms. “I’ll tell you later, Cindy! Just pack up your things!” He said after dropping his equipment on a table and rushing downstairs again for more of his experiments. Confused, I obeyed my father and started running down to my room when something on the kitchen table caught my eye. It was a paper from the U.S government commanding father to report to an Army base for orientation… He was being drafted to World War II!

The escape pod detached from the ship and Siatra was thrust into the emptiness of space. She looked behind her and watched in morbid awe as the Ark she had called home for so many years was blasted into oblivion by Hallow troops. The pod sped away, unaware of the chaos unfurling behind it. Siatra took a deep breath and entered the coordinates. The computer took a moment to process them. It dinged and she smiled. The computer began to count down, and once it reached it zero, it entered FTL mode. It was time to go somewhere no living creature had stepped foot on for a millennia. Somewhere not even the research hungry claws of the Corporation dared go. A place that was once the seat of a mighty empire that spread across the galaxy. A place now nothing but an empty shell. The pod exited FTL and Siatra was greeted with the sight of the small single-moon planet. The source of the armies of Hallow plaguing the galaxy. Earth.&nbsp;

James Weinheimer Based off a true story The foam starts to burn I’m losing my mind For cold water I yearn Or I might just go blind I’d wash out my eye But I can’t even see So now I ask why The bottle said it was tear free

James Weinheimer I The setting sun washed away the last of the storm and cast crimson rivers of light across the ocean, which still churned slightly after the day’s violent events. Water ran through the cracks on the deck and white foam lapped against the hull. The crew was scattered across the ship, lying about like slim seals that seemed to shimmer with their waterlogged clothes that clung tightly to their skin. Their bodies were unmoving, trying to soak up as much sun as possible before it disappeared behind the horizon.&nbsp; Bennett lay on his back, absentmindedly watching a flock of birds, whose species he did not recognize, circling above them. His mind dwelled on the storm that had been evoking its full wrath only an hour or two ago. A handful of sailors were lost when a massive wave crashed into the hull and swept over the deck, carrying the poor souls overboard and into the sea.

It danced down and back, seemingly intrigued by the infinite stretch of water. It flitted carefully out, touching the small waves that lapped up against the damp sand, making sure not to stray too far and retreating suddenly. It paused again, an insubstantial streak of darkness, alone upon the beach. The tide was coming in, slowly eating up the shore. The ocean was stealing away pieces of reality. The shadow lingered upon the edge for a few seconds more, then flickered farther into the water. It’s hesitant air once again became playful as it fluttered in the salty breeze, then disappeared into the depths of the ocean.

By Aika Lanes Once upon a time, in a world full of young glittery fairies, hairy ogres, and wild magazine covers, there lived a dazzling princess, Helga. She lived in a cozy hole by a river in the dark, gloomy forest of Koblargen. She was actually quite ugly, but beautiful at the same time. She wore a long purple bathrobe over bright pink pajamas. Her face was covered in pimples and her short, black, oily hair was kept in neat pigtails. She wore muddy cowboy boots that were covered in moldy cheese. She was the kindest person in the forest, until her father, the king of the hole, died of holeditidus when she was twelve.&nbsp; Helga was angry since then. She was mad she that had not became the queen of the hole. Her anger eventually took over her and controlled her like a dog on a leash. The anger that started to controlled her came from an evil rabbit named Gerome. Gerome controlled her to do many evil things, until the anger learned how to do it itself.

One day, her anger decided that it wanted to make her kidnap the king of the land called Korblorgen’s father’s classmate’s nephew’s cousin’s friend’s teacher’s niece’s classmate’s teammate’s former pet lobster, Lobsterreta.&nbsp; Lobsterreta was a red, beautiful, lobster. She was the lobster’s favorite movie star. She appeared in all the classics and lobster whiskey commercials. Helga flew on her mop towards a direction she didn’t know of, her anger recalled that she was always in lobster whisker commercials, so it took her to the nearest movie theater and stole a ticker from a two year old who started bawling right away. Helga set her mop on the ground and sat down in a VIP seat. The commercials started, and the first one was an ad about getting surgeries at the Fairy Hospital to get wings. The next one was about adopting a creature similar to a frog, a frowg. The one after that was the one she was waiting for, the lobster whiskers.

Yellow Group Circle Poem 7

Write around poem - Yellow buttercups

Loving&nbsp; Thoughtful Mothering figure Gentle and soft voice Kind eyes Quiet voice Feel stable A strange calm washes over me I am in peace I float like a dandelion seed in the wind I have no worries, no thoughts that can scare me I am free by living in the moment I have no past, no future I have finally let go The void calls to me. After years of denial, I call back Whispering, Wanting $1000 reward Dead or Alive

Yellow buttercups in glass vases Aroma of vanilla and cinnamon I am reminded of Grandma’s house, Where I spent so much time as a child. I miss the youthfulness of the past Nostalgia fills my brain Nostalgia for what once was, that is now gone, Ghosts that flow in and out. I wish I could forget&nbsp; I can’t drive the memories away These are things I never wanted to witness Why won’t they leave me be? Memories plague me in the night A whisper beckoning to return to the knife. I have made a mistake A bad idea. Okay, Says their friend Let’s go Says the strange man And what else could I do? I went with him.

on the hull as it wrapped around the sides of the ship. The wood splintered as holes suddenly peppered the side of the ship. Water streamed in through some of the lower punctures and the ship groaned.&nbsp; Someone screamed above deck and George turned towards the ladder. Bennett got to his feet and grabbed his friend’s shoulder. “You can’t go up there!” George slipped out of his grasp. “They need help!” Then he disappeared up the ladder. Bennett stood frozen at the bottom and found that he couldn’t force himself to follow his friend into the chaos. He was shocked at his cowardice, and Bennett felt ashamed. He was nothing like George, his brave friend who had just stormed towards the jaws of death without hesitation. His friend who would stand by the captain in the face of mutiny, even if the whole crew was against him. So Bennett didn’t move, simply staring through the opening at the top of the ladder. He ducked away when a tentacle swept over the deck and the sounds of crewman plummeting into the ocean filled his ears. “What do we do?” William asked, making no effort to

hide the panic in his voice. Bennett said nothing. Nor did the others. A second tentacle wrapped itself around the stern of the ship. With immense weight being applied to both sides, a narrow crack formed through the middle of the deck and spread down the sides of the hull, granting entrance to sprays of salt water. The bow of the ship was urged forward while the stern resisted and pulled backward, causing the ship to splinter left and right. The water had flooded most of the hold and would soon fill the cabin beneath the deck. As the ship struggled, water from the hold sloshed up to slide across the wood planks and meet Bennett’s feet before retreating back to its source. A tentacle slapped against the deck, sending a figure skidding across the blige above before coming to a rest on top of the steel grate. It was George. He got to his hands and knees, but the sea monster’s deadly darm came down once more and crushed him, pinning the poor sailor to the hatch. &nbsp;It

by Petyon Summerhill The world was still. A small pool of water reflected stars and the moon, hanging silent in the deep velvet sky. The air was cool and calm, sweet and rich with the strong scents of summer. The sun had just dipped below the ragged, mountainous horizon, and the vibrant colors it had painted in the sky were dying, just visible through the masses of trees which guarded the clearing. Their bark was a bright amber, filled with endless miniscule patterns, and their branches were drenched in long, dark needles. Faded sunlight clung to the trees, filling the air and giving the small pool a mirror-like quality. Stars and planets gazed down at the dusky, moonlit clearing, locked in their infinite cosmic dance. This small world seemed to glow with a light that wasn’t present as the last streaks of sun dissipated into the night.

Bennett would have joined them if he hadn’t been sent up the rigging to secure a loose rope. As the sailors beneath him were overtaken, he lost his grip on the rope ladder and soon dangled from its rungs by one foot, 30 feet over the deck. Too afraid to attempt to climb back down or venture up to the rope he was tasked with securing, for fear that he would plummet to the deck below or even the treacherous sea, Bennett clung to the rigging while being gripped with absolute dread until the storm had passed.&nbsp; As the crew started to regain their spirits, Bennett conversed with his friend George, a sailor with the same port town origins. George had set off on seafaring adventures while Bennett was still adamant about staying on land and building a steady life. When George returned years later with his trading vessel, Bennett couldn’t help but join the crew after a talk in the tavern about life on the ocean.

The sea called to them. Back on the ship, the two wondered aloud if the captain knew where they were. The birds, still gliding about the sky above the ship, let out ghostly wails that gave Bennett chills. Not long after, the captain rallied the crew and the ship soon buzzed with worry of being lost at sea. Eventually, when the questions from the crew became too much, the captain pulled aside a few men to meet with him in his map room, George and Bennett included. They examined the contents of the ship’s numerous maps, poring over papers and books in an effort to pinpoint their location. Eventually, after plenty of talk about their uncertain whereabouts, they decided that they would have to rely on the stars to orient themselves. They had definitely drifted a long way from their trading route. “The storm came from the northwest, heading roughly southeast,” Bennett reasoned. “So if we really have drifted as far as we believe, then you could assume that we are west of Israel and Arabia and Egypt.”

Watercolor texture 3

2019 Youth Summer Writing Camp Anthology

Write around poem - Her knife

Write around poem - Neophyte

Tucking her knife into her belt Her work is just beginning The road is long and winding And her heart uncertain The road is long and winding, And her heart uncertain She shoulders her pack Breathes deeply The trail ahead of her twisted and turned wickedly Her heart screamed in fear. A bear stepped out of the Woods! Black fur dotted with sunlight It doesn’t even notice us Its lids flit open and close The pupils dilate so large we can see into its soul. I wonder if it sees the real me too. It seems to know my every thought. It knows me better than I know myself I have missed so much Years of slumber It haunting my dreams

Neophyte Vile Green venom Drastic circumstances that bring my stomach to a lurch. Nothing is as I expected And only one option remains I’ve allowed myself to be cornered The one way out I might not be willing to take A sacrifice too great to make. A loss of safety, of security. A superstition A secret. A rumor A myth Is he real?&nbsp; I’ll find out Over mountains and valleys, I will find him My spear is sharpened&nbsp; And my horse is fresh.

The cowboy took out a small white comb from under his hat and started brushing his whiskers. “My name is Ludwig, by the way. I saw you duct tape Lobsteretta at the theater,” he grinned. He held his breath and his face started turning rainbow. His whiskers got longer and longer until it wrapped around the bucket. It tipped over and Lobsteretta fell and broke her back and whiskers. “Ouch!” she said, delayed. Helga un-duct taped her. “Okay, you can have this and Lobsteretta,” she said as she handed him a hot dog. “Have a nice day!”&nbsp; The moment the cowboy jumped into the hole, it seemed that the anger wet its pants and ran away from Helga’s mind. Helga was finally free to do what she wanted without having something controlling her. “Yeah!” shouted Ludwig and Lobsteretta in unison.&nbsp;

“Yay!” cheered Helga. “I’m gonna go dig another hole with the hole fairies while you two sent all the invites!”&nbsp; That night, they did everything Helga said they’d do and at the end of the party, they all got blasted into a rabbit hole… THE END!

He was lost as well, but that failed to bother him. On the contrary, it comforted Vrennan. He didn’t know where he was, but that meant he had no boundaries. It was the angriest, most melancholy freedom he had ever imagined.&nbsp; He wanted to keep moving the next day, to escape the hard knot of anger still burning in his chest. He stared up at the star-filled sky through needle covered boughs. If only he could go there, to the infinite spiraling storm of light reaching out of the empty black. A short, stiff bark pulled him out of his fantasies. His gaze shot across the clearing, and shock emptied his mind. Just on the edge of his sight, nestled among broad ferns and deep shadows, stood a tiny stormy gray wolf pup. A deep guttural growl rose up from behind it. A huge wolf glared at Vrennan, then whisked her little one away, into the darkness.

Vrennan stared at the small nest of crushed ferns long past when the night had concealed it from view. Then a tiny smile, his first in weeks, came to life upon his face. There was something he liked about wolves, and fire could always scare them away if need be. He thought for a long while. Maybe he would stay here after all.

Akina made the sound that was between a purr and a growl and slowly got up. Ashton slightly pouted and then gasped as he felt something cold and slick begin to climb up his leg. Aston looked down as the feeling creeped to his shoulders and then settled around his neck. A flicker of something soft brushed against his cheek and Ashton looked into two silver eyes. He raised his hand and gently brushed two fingers against moonlight white scales.&nbsp; “Cou, What’s wrong?” Cou was a Pacoostu. Pascoostu was a snake like animals but with wings and little legs that could attach to anything. Cou made a cooing sound in his throat and gently squeezed Ashton’s neck in affection. Ashton sighed and made his was over to the baskets and began to put away the stolen goods and other things he had collected.

When Aston was done he stood up and looked around before pinching his nose. ‘Just a little bit longer’&nbsp; Just a little bit longer. But how much longer. Ashton began drop his hand but stopped as soon as he saw the black ink that stained his skin. The ink went around both wrists, up to his shoulders, and down to the middle of his back.&nbsp; As If his eyes weren’t enough of a give away then the markings made it even more obvious. That's why he always hid them by glamor or covering them. Both his eyes and markings made him valuable, desired, and rare. But they could also get him killed. At a young age Ashton was taught to hide everything that made him him.

Yellow Group Found Poem #1

I ran back to the stairs and went down to the basement taking two steps at a time. I found father boxing up larger parts of his experiments. “You’re being drafted!?” I said in disbelief. He looked up at me with sad eyes and nodded. “Cindy… I can’t go to war. I’m so close to a scientific breakthrough! One that could help millions! I just need more time.” I just stood there shocked. We were going to leave Boston… Maybe even America. This couldn’t be happening to me. “Please, Cindy. Please understand,” he continued. Finally coming back to Earth I kneeled by my father. We were going to help people. Possibly millions… “Where to first?” I asked.

It’s the old version My stomach began to roll as the doors to escape closed. I am standing, precarious, one hand gripping a bus seat. The back and forth wave riding is slowly plucking my fingers away. Three lawn mowers lined up against the far wall I suspect the exhaust filled the small bus would have interfered with my ability to form a coherent observation. I heard fifty conversations at once. A sea of chatter. Lies. Humans are such animals. Scurrying along, going somewhere They will not survive the winter. The passage was dull and uneventful.&nbsp;

By Peyton Summerhill The halls were maze-like, with low ceilings, intersections randomly placed, and sharp turns at strange, awkward angles. The strangely tilted walls were coated in infinite layers of graffiti, giving no hint as to the original paint color. Dim yellow lights flickered from grime-covered ceiling tiles. Some floor was carpet, but in other sections it was gray-streaked black or white tile. In places, the ground was a steep, narrow ramp, in others somewhat flat. Posters and signs, outdated and modern, covered doors and sometimes the paint-splattered walls. People, the vast majority of them teenagers, crowded the inner corridors, too caught up in their lives and conversations to spare the building more than a thoughtless glance. Farther out, the halls were quiet, mostly empty, those few walking past not exchanging greetings, focused on their own business.

Everyone seemed to know where they were going, wending their ways through the building automatically, as if the personality-filled passages didn’t merit a thought. 

Ashton smirked and quickly turned to the small passage that was barely big enough for him to fit through. He sucked in his stomach and shuffled&nbsp;through the passage. After a minute the passage opened up into a small meadow. There was a waterfall that flowed into a small lake. The stars looked like glitter in the pond and the moon shone off the waterfall. Ashton let out a sigh of relief and made his way over to some vines that hid the entrance to the cave. Ducking under the low ceiling, Ashton made his way to the middle of the cave where the ceiling was higher. The dull gray cave walls glowed faintly from the Alagos. Ashton let out another sigh.&nbsp;But this one was one of annoyances. No matter how many times he removed the worm like creatures they always came back.

Ashton looked up at the small holes that littered the cave walls. Moonlight was shining through and giving the cave a dim light. In one corner of the cave was a stack of wood. In another was a small river that flowed somewhere. By the pond sat a couple baskets. Each held either food, herbs, or something that Ashton had stolen or collected. A bed made of twigs, leaves, branches, and cloth was against the wall along with a couple other beds. A sudden movement made Ashton look down and smile. Laying down with it’s head on it’s paw and one green eye open in what looked like annoyance was one of the three companions that Ashton had.&nbsp; Akina was what was called a Coyoroc. She had a short snout like a wolf and the body of a cat. Her fur was a light shade of gold with her long tail being all red with a slightly fluffy tip.&nbsp;

Name

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