Teen Ink Magazine,
March 2008 :
Nonfiction Articles
A Tough Lesson by Amanda, Minneota, MN It was the end of my junior year, the weekend before prom. I was riding around that night with some friends, and a bottle got passed around the car. Everyone was taking swigs. Then the bottle got to me. With it in my hand I thought, What will I do? I took a swig. Continue...
Breathe by Andra L., Acworth, GA “One … two … three … NOW!” I bite down on the Altoid and a blast of ice invades my mouth and my head, the cold clearing all nervousness. Continue...
Fallen Arches by Cayla T., Alexander, AR As I sat in my brother’s blue Honda, I stared at the familiar building I had known since childhood. It was the place where I had gotten Happy Meals – not just smaller meals but those made especially for a kid, complete with a toy and child-sized drink. I always wanted the toy. Continue...
Fear Is a Monster by Cara Y., Douglas, MA There is something truly delightful about fear. Good-quality fear at its best reveals its nature through jumps and shrieks and screams, through goose bumps and shivers and bug-eyes. Almost everyone enjoys a scary movie, a haunted house, or a Halloween party from time to time. Continue...
How I Became a Lifeguard by Kirby S., Kansas City, MO Lungs bursting between each stroke, I strained to lift my head out of the water. Hand over hand, kick after kick, inch by inch. My exhausted body reached for the end of the pool. Asthma was kicking in: My breaths became shorter and weaker. Continue...
In Charge by Megan M., Hartland, WI “Welcome to McDonald’s, home of the Ronald. How may I help you?”
“Yeah, can I have four double cheeseburgers? One with just leaf lettuce and mayo, one with only ketchup, one with no onions, and one with barbeque sauce,” the intercom screeches. Continue...
It’s a Small World by Breanna L., Medway, MA It was a parent’s nightmare. Relentless ear-piercing voices rang out as we floated over the unsanitary waters of a murky cave. Much to my family’s dismay, we were on the “It’s a Small World” ride in Disney World for about the tenth time. Continue...
My First Day by Ariel D., New Port Richey, FL During my first week at Palm Harbor Natural Foods, I learned a few things. The customers aren’t always pleasant, the register system is outdated, and you need a manager for every mistake you can (and will) make. Continue...
My Struggle with Bulimia by Lindsay, Clayton, CA Being supervised by my 13-year-old sister is weird. It’s even weirder that she’s watching me go to the bathroom. Well, okay, she’s actually just waiting outside the stall. But I knew she would follow me, I knew she would wash her hands, and I knew she would linger. Continue...
No Problem by Abby F., Cohasset, MA “No, no, no, dear, I want that wrapped in tissue paper.” Great, another middle-aged woman comes through my line and talks to me as if my IQ was that of a grade-school kid. When I first started working, it was simply a way to decrease the time I was grounded and make my parents happy. Continue...
No Shame in Waiting by Ashlee H., Springfield, OR I’m not ashamed. I like my job. I mean, it isn’t my life’s passion, but somehow I manage to have fun with it. I enjoy meeting new people, and sometimes I am fortunate enough to learn something interesting about someone. It may be my nature that draws me to this kind of job. Continue...
The Farm by Cristiana L., Millwood, NY The sun beats down. Early morning rays leave a lonely shadow Cast against a large stone fence Squish squash The noise of shoes in the mud Creaking, cross the wooden floors Moaning, as the door wakes up and yawns to open its mouth and allow the sunshine in. Continue...
Unexpected Tips by Mark S., Wyckoff, NJ Each second was a minute, each minute was an hour, and well, each hour felt like a day. People came and went, asking for coffee, wanting a meal to satisfy their hunger and ignore their pain. Continue...
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