Bringing Weapons
Playinghopscotch
jumping double-dutch
when I would laugh
and awaken the wholeVan Houten Street neighborhood
Laughing was such a strong weapon
evenduring summer's smothering heat and days of
childhood quarrels
throughthe gloom and despair of ...
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College?
Driving in my sister's car, we neared the college houses. Stopping at a red light, weturned our attention to the houses. Students were outside putting up ropes oflights and decorations. My sister watched and her expression saddened, her eyesglistening.
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Darkness
I almost killed mybest friend. The fears, the wounds and the rude awakening that it could happen tome will stick with me forever. Ashleigh and I were on our way to the bank butnever made it. I caught the side of the road and lost control, flipping mycar.
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Fairy Tales
The first image I remember ofthat night was the two girls. They were, by far, the youngest ones there. I foundout later that the lip ring on one was fake (I thought so).
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Finding My Voice
Think of me, think of me fondly whenwe've said good-bye ..."* my voice floats away on the melody as my fingersdance over familiar patterns.
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Just Like the Rest
I can't hear the things you hear,
I don't know what thesound of laughing
children is like.
I am in a world full ofsilent
cacophony.
I've never heard a TV show,
so I wouldn't know if itwas a rerun.
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Love in a Rose
When I was a child, my mom and dad would send me flowers at school on Valentine's Day.No matter what, every year I would get them and feel really happy knowing someoneloved me. In 1998, my dad passed away.
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My First Valentine
It's1994, and I am in the fourth grade. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and as usual, myparents are bugging me about signing valentines for my classmates.
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Older Than Life
Thatdog's been here my whole life."
"We're going to put her tosleep tomorrow. She's old and in pain and we're just being selfish keeping heralive," my dad sighed.
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Realistic Fiction
Asmall plane has crashed into the World Trade Center. They're closing downManhattan and people are not allowed to leave.
Is this some cruel,twisted joke? They definitely crossed the line this time.
There was morethan one plane.
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Study Date
The dark green throw rug tossed
carelessly across a highlyglossed wooden floor.
The bed made with obvious care,
each stuffed animalupright
leaning with its back against down pillows.
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Tasting Chocolate
Moonlightbouncing from frozen puddles in southern clay, a clearing in the woods where allthe modern-day lumberjacks had long since gone home for the night to celebrate intheir own way. Tractors had pushed steep cliffs of dirt against skinny cedartrees.
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The Farm
I remember watching the movingvans pull into the driveway next door and how ecstatic I was to have someone myage living near me. The cold loneliness of the country and the monotony ofplaying games alone would finally be broken.
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The North Carolinian
I looked at the picture on my shelf the other day, and it actually brought a tearto my eye. Joy, sadness, sorrow, regret ... I'm not sure exactly what made me crylooking at our picture.
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When Do You Know?
Whendo you know you're in love? Is it when your stomach turns in knots when he walksby? Is it when your knees collapse when he awards you a marvelous smile that justmakes you melt? Is it when you stutter because just the idea of being able totalk to him ...
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