Goodbye

Goodbye to all the ones I know
And all the ones I didn't
Goodbye to the teachers I loathed
And the mentors I loved
Goodbye to the bumpy fields
The source of many twisted ankles and bruises
Goodbye to the long, overgrown grass
That hides caterpillars and secret bird nests
Waiting to be discovered by eager students
Goodbye to the woods that line the Lower Field
They kept our secrets and our hideouts
Safe from prying eyes
Goodbye to the wall of the Mitchell Building
Reddish brick, we laughed and played against it
Goodbye to the basketball courts
Besides dozens of fast paced games
They witnessed our triumphs and our failures
While we endured and struggled through P.E (just kidding Mr.D)
Goodbye to the locker rooms
If they can be called that
Forever smelly, those rooms held laughs, tears and pranks galore
Goodbye to Mr. Salsichs room
Full of light and cozy chairs
Fond memories of Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird
And lets not forget Poetry Madness
It was a humdinger of a class Mr. Salsich
Goodbye to the language classrooms
Through much confusion, trial and error
We all got the gist (eventually) of what our teachers were saying
Goodbye Mrs. Dolphin
A special mention to you
Through thick and thin
You were the soul of Pine Point
Goodbye History
I'll never forget you
Nor the incredible videos and stories
That were shared within your walls
Goodbye to Science
You changed throughout the years
From the pond and semi dangerous chemicals
To lighting Purell on fire
Goodbye to Math
Though I struggled and was stubborn
Somehow something stuck
Goodbye to all the specials
Art, music and dance
My three most loved subjects
Dance, you taught me how to express myself through movement
And not to be afraid while the music is playing
Thank you for that
Music, you taught me to use my voice
And as tough as chorus was for you
Everyone always appreciated the effort you spent on us
Art
What there to say?
Nothing appropriately describes my love and passion for the subject
Or my love for the teacher
Despite the undeserved and unfortunate C+ she decided to give me
(That shoe had a mind of it's own)
Goodbye Nurse Hall
Thank you for putting up with my best efforts to get out of school
Mrs. Moreen
Thanks for everything you did
You were like the manager for a celebrity
Quiet and in the background
Yet so important and instrumental in everything Pine Point did
Goodbye Library
And the bookworms so like myself that lived inside it
I'm still fairly certain I have books out
Goodbye to G.I.V.E committee
I only wished I had joined it sooner
Because of all the good I felt we did
Goodbye to all the coaches of our sports teams
The real reasons why we won games
Goodbye to Lower School
I have blurred yet happy memories
Of my time spent there
In the company of smiling teachers
And goofy classmates
Along with furry hamsters and guinea pigs
And potatoes
Goodbye to Middle School
The place where I learned my strengths and my weaknesses
Who my true friends were and who were not
And what kind of person I needed to become
At the risk of sounding like a popular sci fi show
You taught me well
Goodbye to Maria
My Mexican friend
I will always miss your laughing and quirky face
Remember the cheese and mysterious meat stick forever!
Goodbye to Doc
The teacher who taught me the meaning of laughter and fun
And that truly excellent actors
Don't need to use microphones
Keep reading your complex and creepy stories to your students, Doc
It's something you never forget and never want to end
Goodbye to Mr. Giese
For as long as I can remember you have headed our school
And I find it fitting that I am leaving the same year you are
For I cannot imagine Pine Point without you
And finally
Goodbye to my friends
From Harry to Hanna (totally the best couple in existence haha)
Kara to Kolton
Wequai to Kiona
Every person in my class is like a brother or sister to me
And I love you all
Class of 2012
Pine Point taught us to achieve our goals, then reach beyond them
Let's take the world by storm
Goodbye

Introduction

Dear Reader,

            Being as you are likely a human and in the process of aging, I feel I should explain to you the meaning and topic of my essay. It is about being human and aging. No doubt you are already quite familiar with the concepts yourself, being human and constantly growing older, but I feel that if aliens from some far away planet ever happen upon this and decide to read, they should have the background information first. Humans grow older every millisecond. It is impossible to not grow older, even when you are dead you still age. Probably. Not being dead, I don’t have that knowledge on a first hand basis, but it is an educated guess on my part that the dead still age.  Growing up however, is not just about a humans body maturing, but also a persons mind. When we are born, we have undeveloped brains beyond the basic necessities for survival, like eating, sleeping and breathing. As we grow, our brains grow with us, learning new things and becoming stronger and more developed. Therefore, this multi-genre essay is about human aging, but also touches the delicate subject of maturing. Enjoy the essay.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                        Jennifer Carroll

Text messages between Romeo and Juliet

My dear Juliet,

Ah, my love! I write this to you with hopes that it finds you well and relatively happy. How I long to be with you! To see the sun rise above the gray sheeted clouds and watch the golden rays fall softly on the slumbering homes of fair Verona. To listen to the sweet melodies of the lovely birds that sing in yonder pomegranate tree. Those birds, they are no comparison to your own loveliness though. You are the envy of the heavens.

Romeo

Romeo,

            I’m not talking to you.

- Juliet

Juliet,

            Why ever not?

-Romeo

Romeo,

           

            Oh, don’t even try that game! You know what!

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Okay, actually, no, I DON’T know what. Why do you always think that everyone somehow knows exactly what you’re talking about ALL THE TIME?

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Baby, you killed my cousin! You know how close we were! Why would you do that?

-Juliet

Juliet,

            It was just a little killing. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            :(

-Juliet

Juliet,

           

            Ok, I’m sorry. Are you happy now?

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Well… OK! So, how about our wedding? I was thinking a minimum of oh, say, three hundred guests, and lots of white with gold accents. And we could talk to the friar and see what kinds of flowers go best with white and gold!

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Uh… you do realize that since I killed Tybalt, I’m technically banished from Verona. Plus, our families hate each other. So, we would probably be killed before we even got the news of our engagement out for five minutes.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Yes… I didn’t think of that. Hmmm….

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Ok, lets pretend that we’re older than our teenage years. We are mature and we are reasonable. We live nice respectable lives, and have reputations for behaving wisely. What do we do?

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Run screaming from you and marry Paris.

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Run screaming from you and try to woo Rosalyn again.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            This is depressing.

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Yeah, I’m not a fan of trying to mature.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            I know what to do!

-Juliet

Juliet,

            What?

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Well, right now, being the moody and angst-ridden teenagers in love that we are, we are relatively depressed at the moment. So, let’s commit suicide together!

-Juliet

Juliet,

            OMG! That’s perfect! OK, I’ll bring the poison. Where do you want to meet?

-Romeo

Romeo,

Ick, poison? I want to do it more dramatically… I know! Let’s stab ourselves!

-Juliet

Juliet,

            You can stab yourself, but I want poison because there’s less of a mess to clean up after.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Yeah, good point… I’m still stabbing myself though.

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Fine.

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Fine.

-Juliet

Juliet,

            Ok, gtg. Ttyl.*

-Romeo

Romeo,

            Bye,  I love you!

-Juliet

* gtg = got to go. Ttyl = talk to you later. Slang commonly used in text messaging

Eulogy: Childhood

If maturity had never happened, if growing up had never existed, childhood would still be here. I would still be able to laugh freely, lightheartedly, no troubles or burdens affecting me. I would still speak in innocent tones; I would revel and cavort in the simplicity of everyday life and find something ordinary wonderful and magical, simply by imagination flaring inside me. Childhood was a precious time and time that will always be in my heart. How I wish sometimes, that I could go back to those happy, joy-filled days where a brown, mossy stick could be a gleaming silver sword and a leaf-covered clearing in the woods could a fairy’s gilded ballroom. However, if I had stayed in childhood forever, if I had never left the realm of make believe that all children live in, how could I have experienced the things I have and the things I look forward to? I would never have kissed a boy, or driven a car or talked until midnight with my best friend. I would not have felt the excitement of an A on my math exam, or the jolt in my stomach when my crush looked at me. I would not have felt the pain of a pet dying, or the sadness of friends becoming enemies and the joy of enemies becoming friends. I would not feel the increasing nervousness as the prospect of high school looms ever so menacingly on the horizon. These emotions and experiences are things that I would never give up, not for anything, now that I have experienced them. Childhood, I will miss you dearly, but all good things cannot last forever. I can only treasure the beloved memories I have of you, and look forward, to the future.

                                                                        - Jenn

WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

Peter Pan

For excessive refusal to grow up

Physical Characteristics:

Height: 5 feet, five inches (5’5)

Hair: Dark brown, short

Eyes: Brown

Age: Unknown, considered a minor by popular society

Gender: Male

Distinguishing marks: Often wears a uniform, green tunic, green leggings, green hat with red feather.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES:

Tinker Bell: Female, around six or seven inches tall, blond hair, green eyes. Reported to have wings. Considered dangerous, approach with caution.

Wendy Darling: Female, approximately twelve years of age, light brown hair, blue eyes. Last reported to wearing a blue nightgown and having a blue ribbon in hair. Not considered a threat.

John Darling: Male, assumed to be ten years of age. Black hair, brown eyes. Often seen wearing a top hat, nightshirt and carrying a small, black umbrella. Reported to be extremely intelligent. Not considered a threat.

Michael Darling: Male, four years in age. Brown hair, brown eyes. Last seen wearing a pink pajama set with feet. Carries a small teddy bear. Not considered a threat.

The Lost Boys

Tootles: Reported to be wearing animal fur, approximate age unknown. Minor.

Nibs: Reported to be wearing animal fur, age unknown. Minor.

Slightly: Reported to be wearing animal fur, age unknown. Minor.

Cubby: Reported to be wearing animal fur, age unknown. Considered to be overweight. Minor

The Twins: Reported to be wearing animal fur. Inseparable. Age unknown; they are minors.

ATTENTION!

The Lost Boys are considered to be extremely dangerous.

DO NOT APPROACH.

Should you see Peter Pan or any of his known companions, DO NOT APPROACH. Call the number shown at the bottom of the poster. Thank you for your cooperation.

Signed,

Captain M. J. Hook

Captain of the Hunt for the Notorious Peter Pan, Scourge of the Adults of the World.

And, the good ship, the Jolly Roger.

860-510-8992 or 527-895-4001

Growing Up PROVEN To Erase Wrinkles!
Inside: A Dermatologists Confession!

By Lisa LaRue

Have you always thought that the more you grow up, the more unsightly wrinkles and age spots you’ll get? WRONG! In this shocking interview with dermatologist Megan Staley, you’ll discover the best kept secret in the world… REVEALED!

My interview with Dr. Staley started off with us sipping raspberry tea on the porch of her Norwegian summer home, watching the goats frolic below us in the grassy fields. After a few easy questions to warm her up, I posed the million-dollar question, “ So Megan, what is the key to youthful looking skin? Women all across America want to know how every one of your clients come away with that desirable freshness to their face.”
She laughed, snow white teeth gleaming,” Why Lisa! You want me to give away all my trade secrets! I’d be out of a job.” I smiled, and then asked again.
She looked nervous, “It’s all thanks to my Super Moisturizer/ Sun block 1200-“
I cut her off,” Yes, we all know the story, Megan, but that’s not the truth.”
Dr. Staley sighed,” Well. I guess the truth had to come out sometime,” she remarked wryly.
I leaned in closer, my delicious raspberry tea forgotten as I prepared to hear the greatest Hollywood secret since Botox.
In hushed tones, she told me the whole story,” Ten years ago, I looked terrible. I had blotchy and irritated skin, thousands of wrinkles and age spots and basically, looked twenty years older than I was. I just kept buying all of the over the counter drugs meant to improve skin. I tried all of the options out there, everything under the sun. I even flew to China to talk with an old Tibetan monk who had lived two hundred and fifty years, and looked like he was thirty. Of course two days after visiting with him, I discovered he actually was thirty,” She sighed. “ It was a disappointment, but life goes on. Finally, I figured out the secret. I mean, I must’ve, otherwise how would I have skin like this?” She remarked, touching her flawless cheek and chuckling. Breathlessly, I waited, pen poised over my paper, waiting to scribble down what was sure to follow.
Dr. Megan Staley took a deep breath and then whispered,” The secret is growing up!”
Taken aback, I blinked. Before I could protest however, the good doctor quickly elaborated,” You see, I was trying so hard to remain youthful looking; I ended up looking older than I was. Cheesy make-up and dangerous wrinkle fillers that you see advertised on T.V only make it more obvious that a person is aging. If you want to look young, you have to accept your age first. You need to grow up, not try to be twenty again!” She sat back, preening and then added,” Just grow up and mature some, and I guarantee that you’ll be looking half your age before the month is out.” She winked,” But my moisturizer helps too!”

So, good citizens of America, there you have it. The secret to looking young is growing up and accepting your age! Just remember my name, Lisa LaRue, whenever you want to discover the truth about something, whatever it is! Right now, you can reach me with questions and comments at the website superstartabloids@comcast.net.

By Lisa LaRue, Star Reporter for the National Enquirer… we inquire for the nation!

Sonnet of Friendship

Friends are the most important things to me
They share your deepest troubles and your joys
They open your eyes to possibilities
When you are too caught up in your minds noise
They're always there to catch you when you fall
To laugh with you and wipe your tears away
No matter what they will give it their all
As fresh with you as the seas salty spray
When I was little, I had one wish
Not to own a horse, or be royalty
Now my dreams consist of scoring a swish
In a basketball game, but they were loyalty
And friendship back then, someone like a fish
Always constant, like salmon swimming upstream
Back then that was my only, and greatest dream.