Student’s Writings

Famous Threesome – Madison Hansel

A recent prompt: Famous Threesomes. For example: Three Blind Mice. Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato. Beginning, Middle, End. 

Madison Hensel takes us on a fantasy ride with Alvin and the Chipmunks while framing her story in the perennial writer’s challenge of getting started.

Famous Threesome

Friday is my favorite day of the week. After Friday I get to have Saturday and Sunday to relax. Also, on Fridays I have writing class.

It’s 9:22 AM and Mr. Don tells us today’s topic is Famous Threesomes. We have a long list to pick from. Some examples: the three blind mice, the three amigos, the three musketeers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the three bears, and the powerpuff girls. If you know anything about me, then you know I am the worst at deciding, I cannot pick one or two because I am indecisive.

I sit staring at my computer screen and the list. I have no clue which trio to write about. All of the sudden, I see a chipmunk running around the room. Nobody else seems to notice it though. Am I the only one seeing this chipmunk in a green shirt? Last time I checked, chipmunks don’t wear clothes. The only chipmunks I know that wear clothes are Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. What is happening? Am I crazy? Why do I have to see a chipmunk running around the room? Why can’t everyone else see it?

It goes near the kitchen so it must be Theodore because he loves food. I walk in the kitchen and I see Alvin with a spoon singing. What is happening here? Simon hid in a cup. Alvin says, “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? The better question is what are you doing here?”

Alvin replies, “I know you see it’s raining out there and since the door was open, we came in. I am not getting my hair wet, I just washed it. By the way, do you have a car? Because I have a show in exactly one hour and I have no clue where my limo is.”

“No Alvin, I do not have a car. I’m 14 and I can’t drive.”

“Well, what about your teacher? Just take his car.”

“You have never met Mr. Tom but if I take his car, I will not be able to come to this school anymore and he would probably go to jail because he would kill me.”

“There is no harm, just take the car, I am performing a few minutes away.”

“Fine!”

I knew this was not the right thing to do, but I was with Alvin and the chipmunks. I found Mr. Tom’s keys and ran out the front door. Nobody saw me. How? I have no clue.

Theodore took a bag of chips bigger than him, and Alvin sang the whole time we were driving. Simon had a paper bag and thought I was going to crash, but I didn’t crash the car. I think I did pretty good. I dropped them off. They all thanked me for the ride and we took a picture together. I got back to the school and Mr. Tom was waiting for me.

I hear Mr. Don’s voice “How many people are done? I think we’ll get started in about ten minutes.” I look at my screen and I have nothing. Just the title, The Famous Threesomes.

Madison Hansel

February 9, 2022

Famous Threesome – Chase Christou

A recent prompt: Famous Threesomes. For example: Three Blind Mice. Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato. Beginning, Middle, End. 

Chase Christou weaves a fascinating tale seamlessly incorporating no less than twenty famous threesomes.

Famous Threesomes 

The beginning

I’m sitting around the campfire. Smoke burns my eyes like acid. I’ve already changed my seat three times, but the smoke continues to follow me.

I decide to just ignore it. I won’t let this little fire get in my way. Anyway, if I wanted to, I could just spit on the fire and it would go out.  This fire would have no leverage in a fight against me. After all, it is the weakest out of the three elements: earth, fire, and water.

I pick up three marshmallows and roast them in the fire. I pull them out before they catch on fire because I’m not a psychopath who eats food that’s on fire.

I slide them onto my graham cracker and add the chocolate on top with another graham cracker covering it. The perfect s’more. Graham crackers, chocolate, and gooey marshmallows create the perfect late night snack.

Before I take a bite of my delicious s’more, I sit it down on my plate and take out my knife, fork, and spoon. The proper way to eat a s’more. If you eat s’mores without utensils, you’re the psychopath. I dig into my perfect s’more.

As I’m eating my s’more, I get a Remind message from Mr. Tom.

“Good afternoon, I hope you all are doing absolutely splendidly. I am so sorry for texting you at the extremely late hour of 6:30 P.M., but I must tell you we are starting our third trimester tomorrow and remember to get a good night of rest. Remember: tomorrow is always a new day, so let’s make sure we make it a good one and hit the ground running. Thank you, Mr. Tom.”

Wait a second.. Our third trimester isn’t until March 1st. Does that mean I’m living in the future??? I would hope not. I would rather be living in the present. Out of the past, present, and future, I think present is the best one.

After all, if we were in the past or future, we might not have graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow sandwiches. We might not have bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches in the future. And in the past, we didn’t have the story of Franklin, Micheal, and Trevor. Or in the past past, we didn’t have the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Or in the past, past, past, we wouldn’t have the story of the Three Little Pigs.

We also might not even need knives, forks, or spoons in the future. We might just teleport food into our body.

Who knows, we may not have great TV shows like the Power Puff Girls in the future.

But at least one game will stay with us forever. In the past, present, and future, we will always have rock, paper, scissors to play. The simple, free to play game that only requires your hands.

And if we lived too far in the past, we wouldn’t have the Iphone, the Ipod, and the Ipad.

The middle 

After I finish eating my s’more, with a fork of course, I decide to head back inside.

I walk up to my door and turn the handle. The door opens on its hinges. I step inside. I’m surrounded by a wall, ceiling, and floor.

I walk to my bathroom and as soon as I step inside, I see a toilet, bathtub, and sink. The classic trio.

I walk out of the bathroom and begin to walk upstairs. My foot leaves the hard floor of the first floor, stepping onto the carpet that leads upstairs. The carpet is also made up of three things: Carpet, dog hair, and dust.

In my room I see another three things. I see a bed, some dirty clothes, and some more dirty clothes. The bed contains a mattress, with a blanket and a pillow.

Next to the bed I see something else, a window. A window with a frame, glass, and hinges. Next to the window is a curtain.  It has a curtain rod, hooks, and of course the silky fabric. Next to the window is a pencil sitting on a desk. The pencil is made of three things, graphite, the actual wooden pencil part, and the eraser. Underneath the pencil, is the wooden desk. Made up of wood, wood, and more wood.

The ending

Moral of the story, anything in life can be made up of three parts if you’re limited to only being able to describe three things by your creative writing teacher.

Chase Christou

2/4/22

Pursuit of Happiness – Ethan Christou

The students were shown a video in which two adult characters, a middle-aged man and an older woman, are sitting on a park bench discussing life. The man admits he has recently been suicidal but has now decided to stick around to “maybe make his little corner of the world a slightly happier place.” The woman responds, “That’s all there is, really. Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing that it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not.”

The students were asked to share their reflections on happiness.

Ethan writes that happiness is contagious, going so far as to refer to laughing as a drug to which he is addicted.

Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is a very simple thing. Sometimes it can come easily. Other times it can be very hard to find.

For me, it doesn’t take much. Small things can make me happy. Laughing is the easiest way for me to bring happiness since it releases dopamine. Laughing is basically my drug, and I’m addicted. I’m always using it, laughing at pretty much anything.

Happiness is contagious. It’s so great to be around people who are optimistic or in a positive mood because they can spread that to you. Seeing other people happy is one of the greatest feelings. At least for me it is.

I know there are those who see happy people and get angry. That’s definitely the opposite way to go.

You should celebrate other people’s happiness, success, and achievements. Don’t envy other people’s happiness; make your own… because we all have something to be happy about.

Ethan Christou

January 28, 2022

Happiness is Amazing – Bre’Onna Clowney

The students were shown a video in which two adult characters, a middle-aged man and an older woman, are sitting on a park bench discussing life. The man admits he has recently been suicidal but has now decided to stick around to “maybe make his little corner of the world a slightly happier place.” The woman responds, “That’s all there is, really. Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing that it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not.”

The students were asked to share their reflections on happiness.

Bre’Onna shares how making others happy benefits her and reinforces her own sense of personal growth.

Happiness is Amazing

“Happiness is amazing. In fact, it is so amazing that it doesn’t even have to be your happiness.”

Even though it took me five minutes to agree with this statement, I believe in this saying because seeing others smile, laugh, and grow makes me happy. When I’m feeling down, seeing my nephew smile makes me happy because he’s happy. Making my little brother laugh because he was upset makes me feel happy. Knowing I can cheer someone up brightens my spirit. Analyzing my self-growth makes me feel great because I’ve come a long way. Knowing I can grow makes me want to continue to grow.

Everyone goes through things. People tend to hide how they feel so they won’t ruin other people’s happiness but, opening up to someone you trust a lot can lead to relief which can then lead to happiness for both of you. Sometimes even talking to someone you don’t know and just having them listen can let you release negative thoughts and feelings. Personally, talking to myself helps because only I know how I truly feel. Giving myself some positive comments and encouragement lets me know my self-worth.

Happiness is something that each and every one of us should cherish because you never know what’s going to happen next. Letting anger and sadness get a hold on you slows you down from living.

Bre’Onna Clowney

January 28, 2022

An Elevator Story – Ronan Guilfoyle

An Elevator Story

By Ronan Guilfoyle

It’s the end of the 2021-2022 school year, my last year of high school with all these amazing friends, who I now consider family. We’ve talked about doing things together for years, like one big huge trip. Somehow we finally figured out a plan to get it done. Where did we choose, you may ask. Well, we chose the amazing city of New York. 

Mr. Don is always mentioning to us that he used to live and work in the city of New York. I’ve only been one time but I dream of going again and seeing all it has to offer. Now, if you know me, you know that I hate doing adventurous things by myself. Constantly, I’m trying to find people to go on car rides with me, go to the movies with me, or just hangout. Point is, I don’t like being alone very much, especially in huge places like New York. So I’m so glad I get to experience it with my classmates.

After the painful three hour car ride full of loud conversation between students and Ethan’s annoying laugh we arrive in New York. Parking has always been a huge issue for travelers to the impeccable concrete jungle where dreams are made. Luckily, Mr.Tom has connections wherever we go. We found a parking spot for our van right next to our hotel. 

We unload into our rooms, five separate rooms all on the third floor since Mr.Tom hates elevators. Room one was composed of Jayla, Airy, Destiny, and Bre’Onna. Next room was slightly smaller so Kevin and Chase took it. Rhys and I had our own room to ourselves, in which we hooked up our Nintendo Switch that we snuck past Mr.Tom. The fourth room was smaller as well, so Illiana and Myshell took that one. Mr.Tom obviously took the biggest of the five rooms. He definitely saved the luxury for himself. King size bed that sits a few feet from a fifty-five inch 4K TV, perfect for watching Blade Runner. Mr.Tom’s room even came with a hot tub in the bathroom, which alone was the size of the two smaller rooms. And Donald got to enjoy the closet in Mr.Tom’s room. We were living lavishly, at least Mr.Tom was.

The next morning we all met in the mess hall to enjoy breakfast and talk about a plan. Rhys and I had brought our own money so we could get a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich from this little cafe we found last time we visited. Only problem was we couldn’t remember what the name was or where exactly it was located. After we had all left the mess hall of the hotel, we split into different groups. The younger children were accompanied by Donald since they need to be supervised. We have to make sure we don’t leave a student behind… not again. Ethan and Josh went outside and immediately started filming a vlog for their Josh & Nemo YouTube channel that I occasionally visit when they bombard my phone with notifications. Rhys and I checked my phone to find this cafe, but to no avail. Rhys and I start to try to really remember the name of this place. No luck for these Irishmen. 

Mr.Tom walks over to us and asks what we’re going to do. We tell him that we’re on the hunt for the best breakfast sandwich in the city. He gently reminds us about the times Rhys and I would say that we would  bring him our breakfast sandwiches. Determined to get a sandwich, Mr.Tom joined our brigade to find this spot. After an hour of searching, and somehow ending up near Grand Central Terminal, we see this large building…The Summit One Vanderbilt. Rhys and I get the great idea to go up the elevator to see if we can pinpoint the general location of the cafe. When Mr.Tom hears of this idea, he immediately vetoes it. His legs start to shake at the thought of going up a glass elevator on the outside of a building. Rhys and I wanna find this sandwich place so we do it. In general concern for our safety, Mr.Tom advises us not to go, but a breakfast sandwich is a breakfast sandwich, and there is no length Rhys and I will not go to get one.

We enter the building and find the entrance to the elevator. Mr.Tom blocks the doorway to keep us safe from malfunctioning gears or whatever. I wasn’t really paying attention to his riff because I wanted this sandwich. But you know New York, people have places to be, so people start to pile into the elevator to get to work and other important things. The sheer force of this mass of people is enough to get Rhys and I, with Mr.Tom, into the elevator. Mr.Tom tried to push and shove his way out but he wasn’t strong enough. He was stuck.

All the buttons on the panel were lit up. People coming in and going off the elevator on each floor. It seemed to Mr.Tom that we would be stuck in this hell forever. Rhys and I don’t pay much attention to the panicking Mr.Tom, who is sweating rivers. Rhys and I look around for the cafe. We reach the top floor and Mr.Tom is losing it. I mean he is a full out rage machine. He is cursing everyone in Italian because of what he has had to experience.  But since we’re in New York, everyone here is some part Italian so they understand what he is saying. They start wanting to fight Mr.Tom. I quickly intervene and explain that Mr.Tom is my mentally unstable grandpa who hasn’t been the same since Vietnam, and that we apologize for his extreme words. From the other side of this rather large elevator I hear Rhys scream out that he sees the cafe. I quickly make my way to the level one button and press it. 

Finally, that nightmare of only seven minutes was over and Mr.Tom returned to his normal self. At least we think he did. He still looked a little scared from the experience, but nevermind that. We walk ten minutes to the cafe, but Mr.Tom is dead silent. We got our bacon, egg, and cheeses and the three of us enjoyed them.

Once Mr.Tom took that first bite, he instantly returned back to a normal state. He looked down at the sandwich and back at us. He took a couple more bites and wiped his mouth. Chewed for a second and then said.

“You boys put me through hell, but this is a damn good breakfast sandwich.”

The End

1/21/22

Exotic Expeditions – Myshell Jones

Exotic Expeditions

by Myshell Jones

“Okay class start writing” 

“Okay Mr. Don” (The class says) Now that Mr.Don has told us to start writing; I have no idea what to write. Mr. Don gave us this pretty interesting topic. He gave me a picture of this place named Bhutan. I have no idea what this place is at all or who the people in this picture are. I only have one solution to this problem: ask for help to figure out my problem. I need to go up to Mr. Don and let him know I have no idea what to write about this strange place named Bhutan that I know literally nothing about. (So that’s what I do).  

“Hey Mr. Don” (I say)

“Hey Myshell, what can I help you with? Wait before you tell me, let me get a drink of my water. My mouth just gets so dry” 

“Okay” 

“Okay, so what do you need help with Myshell?” 

“I just don’t know anything about this place at all or these people in the picture that you call the Monks”  

“Well Myshell, you don’t really need to know anything about Bhutan. What you need to do is put yourself inside of this picture and write about it. I think you can do it.” 

“Okay Mr.Don. Well before I go, I have one more question. May I use the bathroom?” 

“Of course you can use the bathroom. You don’t have to ask me.”

“Okay, thank you.” 

“Wait Myshell, before you go, enjoy your time in Bhutan.” 

Enjoy my time in Bhutan? What is Mr.Don talking about? Maybe he is just going a little bit crazy. Anyways I make it to the bathroom and use it like a normal person. But then as I am washing my hands I can hear a strange noise outside the door. 

“Okay let me go start writing about this place Bhutan. Why did I have to get Bhutan” 

As I open the door, a hot draft hits my face. Wait a minute this is not the classroom. Where am I?  

I am in this strange room. It looks like a bridge, but it doesn’t go over anything. It just connects a room to a room. This room has writing on the wall, but I can’t read it because the writing is in a different language. Then these four boys came up to me. They are wearing these orange types of wrapping on them. It’s kind of cool, maybe that’s a trend around here. They start speaking to me in a different language that I don’t understand. “Um excuse me I have no idea what you guys are saying do you happen to know any English or know what this place is” 

“Yes we do know English” one of the boys says.  

“Do you happen to know where I am?” 

“You are in Bhutan.” Then I came to a realization that this is the place in my picture that Mr.Don gave me. What did he do? How did he get me to hear this makes no sense. 

“Wait a minute guys,” one of the boys says. “It’s her it’s really really her”

“ Her? Wait a minute? What is going on here?” I say. 

“You are here. You really did come, they said you would come to save us.”

“Save who? I did not commit to save anyone. What are you guys talking about?” Then they all pick me up at the same time and carry me down this strange bridge thingy into another room.  

“Hey! Put me down now!”

“No, we can’t. We have to show the rest of the people that we found you and that you are here to save us. Oh, and we have to show the King.”

“I am not doing any saving! I can’t even save myself from anything. I want to go back to school. I have never wanted to be in that cold classroom this much before ever in my life.”  

“Hello King we have found are savior girl.” 

“No they did not! I am not your savior girl! I don’t know who she is but she is not me!” 

“You really did come. He was right.” (The king says)

“He was not right. Do you guys hear nothing? That the savior girl is not me. Even though I am not, what I am saving you guys from.”

The King says, “You are saving us from the evil dragon that is to come to destroy our kingdom.”

“Wait a minute! Did you just say a evil dragon?”

“Yeah ,that’s what I said” 

“Oh, you definitely have the wrong person. I can not save anyone from an evil dragon. I thought those things didn’t exist anymore anyways. But back to the point, I can not save you from a dragon.”

“Take her to go, put her armer on, and give her the forbidden sword.”

“Wait a minute! Why are you giving me a forbidden sword?”

“You will see. Take her now. We don’t have any time to waste,” the King says. Then the monks pick me up and take me. 

“What is up with the picking up thing I can walk you know!”

Then I am now in this room that looks like a dressing room with these two women, and they get me dressed in this armor that is so beautiful and made of real gold. Then after I am all dressed up, the monks come back in and pick me up once again and take me to the top of a mountain. “Great job guys. You can put her down. Here is your forbidden sword, good luck our savior.” 

“Why was this the forbidden sword? This thing is beautiful. But anyways I can’t do this. I can’t fight a dragon. Do I even look like a dragon slayer to you?” 

“Yes.” Of course he would say that. 

“The dragon shall come in 3.”

“Wait! No! I can not do this!” 

“2” 

“Please no. Don’t make me do this. I am not a dragon slayer” 

“1”. 

Knock. Knock. Knock!

“ Hey Myshell, you good in there?” 

“Yes Mr.Don, I am ok”. Oh my goodness. I have never been so happy to be in this bathroom. Then I go back to the classroom and write my thoughts away. The moral of the story: Don’t put yourself too much in your picture. You might end up feeling like you are actually trapped there.  

January 14, 2022