#BirdvilleVoices

This digital literary magazine is a compilation of writings from the budding PAP middle school authors around the district. Please enjoy their insights, humor, and writer's craft.

Halloween Story

I shouldn’t have been out so late on my own, especially on Halloween. What was I thinking? I was just a little kid that was alone outside. I practically had a sign that said, “I’m just a helpless kid, do what you want!” on me. However, I had extremely important confidential business to take care of.

About two days ago, I had borrowed a rare game card from a friend-after some tough persuasion-to admire and inspect over the weekend. I had been yearning to get a good look at the card for too long and the opportunity had presented itself. The card was almost pristine. It had a golden shine to it and had a colossal red dragon breathing glowing bright fire on it, one of the strongest characters. My friend valued it very much, which was why it took a lot of persuading to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, I left it somewhere and lost it.

I had flipped my entire house upside down and on its side, trying to find it to no avail. I was utterly destroyed and distraught. How could I lose something so important? Where did I leave it last? What will my friend do if he finds out? I had those questions lingering in my mind until I thought of the perfect solution.

I had immediately gone to my laptop, ripping it open and feverishly punching keys until I found what I was looking for. I found the same, glimmering card on a website called Gary’s Catalog. Gary’s Catalog was a somewhat back alley website that a lot of kids at my school used to trade valued items, which were mostly just very overpriced pens and other supplies. However, there were some hidden gems if you looked hard enough.

I made a deal with the person selling the card and agreed to meet up at a nearby pumpkin patch at midnight. The person also did not seem to want to reveal who they were. That should have been a red flag, something that was telling me that something was wrong, but I needed to get that card.

Now here I was, out in the quiet streets of my neighborhood on Halloween at almost midnight. It was also so foggy to the point I could barely see a couple of feet in front of me before everything dissolved into white mist. There was almost no wind. Since it was very late, no one was outside trick or treating. Other kids were probably staying up late in their houses, counting the loot they had collected from the night. Many of the houses on my street were dark, save for the houses with excessive amounts of Halloween lights on them that made them look like supernovae compared to everything else.

The pumpkin patch was supposed to be down the block and around the corner, but the fog was so immense that I couldn’t tell where the corner was. Eventually, I found the reflective stop sign that glowed from the moonlight, telling me that I had reached the junction. I turned right and approached in the direction of the pumpkin patch. I suddenly had some chills running down my spine. Why did I agree to come here so late? I couldn’t go back now, though. I just had to trust that everything was fine and I would get the card and get back home. I walked into the front archway to the pumpkin patch.

The pumpkin patch was huge, not that I could see much of it because of the fog, though. The city would always set aside a pretty sizeable piece of land every year for things like this, so there was a lot of open space for pumpkins. There were pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, put in neat rows or stacked on top of each other to make small walls of pumpkins. Straw was also everywhere. I crept into the main center area and said, “Hello?” quietly at first and then a little louder.

“Hello? Is anyone here?”

No answer. I wondered if the seller had even shown up and was just tricking me. I wandered a little bit to see if they had come. That was until a swarm of pumpkins attacked me.

The pumpkins had moved so fast I wasn’t able to even try to run away. They also seemed to be incredibly strong in numbers, which they definitely had. It looked like the entire pumpkin patch was on me. I tried my hardest to wiggle out of their stem hands they were using to pin me down, but it was useless. I knew there was something up with that guy! What was I thinking?! I was stuck there struggling and crying out for help. I saw a blur of orange come at my head and everything went black.

I woke up and had no idea where I was. What just happened? Why was I tied down to a table? Why was I in this dark place? I tried to remember what happened. Was I kidnapped somehow? I tried to move, but I was tied down tight. I then turned my head to the side and saw it.

It was a pumpkin the size of a car, standing ominously on an old chair that looked prehistoric from everything on it being so ripped and pealed. The pumpkin had a big angry face carved on it and was staring at me.

“You’re finally awake,” it bellowed, its voice so loud it made the whole room shake slightly.

“Where am I?” I demanded. “Why have I been taken here?

“You humans have unethically taken us pumpkins and our families to use for your foods and decorations. We are sick of your treatment. We have taken you, prisoner, until we figure out something to do with you. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy being pummeled by pumpkins.”

“No! You can’t do this! Why would y-”

What looked like hundreds of pumpkins stormed through doors on both sides of the room and I was being constantly hit everywhere on my body. I heard them begin to start shouting things at me as well.

“You will pay for your injustices!”

“You will never take our families again!”

One even said, “You will be a real feast for us tonight!” So I guess I was going to be eaten. I guess that makes sense, but that means I would need to find a way to escape before I would become dinner for these angry pumpkins.

After what felt like too much time, the pumpkin crowd began to thin out, and finally, everyone was gone. Then, I began looking to see if there was anything that I could use to help me get free from my binds. There was absolutely nothing. I then started looking at the knots on the ropes and tried to untie them. After some work, I finally got some of my limbs free. Eventually, I was able to completely get free and sneak around to see where I could exit this place.

Then, a pumpkin came through a door and I made a run for it. I sprinted through the door, right past the pumpkin. The pumpkins seemed extremely caught off guard, so I had a head start to run down the halls of this gloomy place. When the pumpkin did finally shout out that I was escaping, I was long gone down the long halls. I reached a set of stairs that went down, so I figured I must have been on the second floor. I zipped down the stairs, taking them three at a time, to the first floor.

The layout of this place started to seem familiar to me. I couldn’t think of how I remembered this place...

It was the haunted mansion on the hill! I had always been curious about what the mansion had inside and what spirits haunted it, but I was never allowed to come to look. I remember seeing a picture of the inside taken from one of the brave kids that went in to look a few years ago. It looked exactly like this.

I was relieved to know that I was close to home, but I knew that I had to keep running or else I would get caught again.

I heard a pumpkin open a door in front of me. The pumpkin then jumped out into the corridor, blocking my path. I tried to push it out of my way, but the pumpkin wouldn’t budge. The pumpkin began approaching me. I decided I had no choice but to kick it away. The pumpkin screeched in pain and rolled down the hall. I continued running.

Finally, I saw some doors that were bigger than the others and seemed much grander. They had to be the front doors. I rammed into them with such force that I heard wood splitting where the hinges were. I had made it outside!

I immediately dashed for cover just in case the pumpkins came outside to look for me. After a while of waiting, I sneaked away from the mansion until I felt I was a safe distance away to not be spotted again. I looked around to see if there were any landmarks I could follow to go home. By now, the sun was starting to peek out above the horizon and the fog was much less dense. I looked down the hill and saw some lights from houses in the distance. I had found my neighborhood!

After an agonizing walk back, I finally made it to my house. Luckily, my parents were not awake yet and I could slip back into the house as nothing happened.

I have always remembered that night as being very strange, and sometimes I wonder if any of it was real or not. However, it made me feel much more paranoid with people I didn’t know, and I’m not so sure about even going near a pumpkin anymore.

Keep trying, work harder, Maybe if,

If I was special in any way. Get better grades,

100% on all tests,

Impress them.

Push personal feelings down, No one wants to see them.

Work hard,

Be perfect,

Maybe then,

I'll be special.

We start to walk to an abandoned building with my friends Mike and Sarah. I had suggested that we go since we heard rumors that if you find a doll and look at it, it gives you a curse but no one knows what type of curse.

As we arrive at the building I notice that something is peeking out through one of the windows. I rub my eyes and look again. It’s gone, I shrug thinking that it’s just my imagination. I, Mike, and Sarah step inside, it smells like smoke and rotten eggs.

“Alright let’s separate. I’m staying down here, Sarah you go upstairs, and May goes explore the basement.”Mike said.

“Alright,” I agreed,

“Okay” Sarah agreed.

I went to the basement, it was filled with dust and cobwebs, also there was a corner that had a box.

I went to investigate the box and once I opened it and saw this doll that had a porcelain face that was cracked,

The paint was distorted, and the arms were nowhere to be found. I was surprised that it was here, I thought about the rumors about a curse but decided that it was a myth. I took the doll to go show my friends.

“Hey, guys look what I found!” I said,

“Cool, where was it?” asked Mike

“I found it in this box in the while in the basement” I answered,

“What is that?” asked Sarah, she had just come down from upstairs,

“The cuuuuuursed dooooll” I teased,

“Stop that!” she demanded

“ Chill out I’m just joking,” I said.

After a bit more of exploration we decided to go. Sarah and Mike went to their houses and I went home.

I set the doll on my dresser and went to eat dinner. After dinner, I went to my room not expecting much from the doll but once I looked it in its broken plastic eyes then something happened. The next thing I knew I was seeing myself through the doll’s eyes. I saw my body move without me controlling it. All I could do is watch, as it went out the door into the world.

I was walking down the street with my groceries in my arms when I heard a loud thud. I look over to our city's deck where we can see the Atlantic ocean when a huge ship pulls up. I see dozens of people gazing with open mouths when the street lights go out. I couldn’t see anything. Then I hear multiple screams of terror from the people. I start running back where I came from trying to find some help. When I storm into the police station seeking help I find that all of the police officers were tied up to the wall. It was foggy all through the town with screams echoing through the air. I pull out my knife to untie the officers when the Police chief says. “ leave now and hide, they are coming.” I didn’t know who they meant but I didn’t listen then a bright green light shines through the windows. “ There here hide while you still can” I duck down behind a nearby desk, my breath heavy when the doors blow open. Then a large bulky man walks in with one leg and a missing eye. He looks like someone who has done some time. Then two more walk in not as big but as bald as a baby. Right behind them comes a smaller Pirate around my age , then I think to myself why would they want a kid on their crew. Then when I get a good look at his face I realize that’s Eli . My long lost brother Eli is right there . The Pirates interrogated the Police officers then dragged them out to their ship where I realize is where they are keeping the other people. I sneak out of the police station quietly after the Pirates when Eli tells them to go in without him . Then he turns around, I duck behind the garbage as quickly as I can hoping he didn’t see me . Then the lights flicker and he moves about 50 feet closer to me. Then they flicker once again where he is standing right in front of me . Trying to hold my breath in praying he doesn’t turn around then with his back facing me he says “ Isn’t this a fun family reunion, don't you think Owen. After that two Pirates jump at me from behind then everything goes black.

When I regain consciousness I look around to see around 100 people or so on the deck paralyzed with fear. The big bulky Pirate from the Station was walking around watching us when one of the Police officers lunged at the Pirate. But with the snap of his fingers the Police officers were gone into thin air. This made the people even more afraid. He explained the rules telling us if anyone stepped out of line then they would end up like that police officer. Over the next few days no one dared to step out of line, but then one day a brave firefighter thought we should fight back. Most of the people agreed and in minutes we were bursting through the Elis quarters when we found there was no one there aside from Eli. Eli tells us they were using him to draw me and the other people in to use us as slaves for their Pirate empire. We untie Eli but then the lights go out and Eli tells us there here. One by one they start taking us out, before I know it It’s just me and Eli all alone. Eli tells me he’s sorry for siding with the Pirates and he tells me why he did it. Then I hear a snap of the fingers and Eli and I disappear into thin air. To this day Eli and everyone else from that night are still in that bottle praying for someone to come to their rescue. Legends says if you see a bright green light on a full moon then that means there are more people to add to their collection. It could be you . So if you see a green light hide, just know it never means anything good.

The Unknown

Bang, as the house shakes and I fall into a state of fear. It was chilling my spine and I was not expecting it. The still air changed and became alarming. The calm house fell into a state of shock. I could never believe that a regular day for me would be disastrous.

The distress happened on a calm Texas night and I was home alone on my couch watching Tv. I was making instant Ramen and was marking time for my family to get home. It was still and was really calming, but the only thing that was creeping me out was the halloween decorations hanging around the house and in the neighborhood. The time kept on ticking and I continuously waited for my family to get home. I was on the verge of a headache from watching Netflix for a long period of time and everything started to get fuzzy. Next thing I knew I was asleep on the couch for a few minutes and was woken up by the noise of the phone saying that they were stuck in a major traffic jam and wouldn't get home for another hour.

The air was getting stiller and the night was as silent as a fox. I finished my “Chinese wheat noodles served in a miso broth with sliced pork.” I was exhausted after the ramen and was expecting to go to hit the hay and wake up to my family at home. My head was blank and I was dreaming of amusing myself with my friends at the park having a great time. The night was getting stiller and my dog Bailey was sleeping like she had been knocked out by a spell. Then the worst happened, the house shook as the loud noise burst through the walls like a cannon being fired through a house. The fear of what could happen to me if it was a robber or an attack chilled my spine and paralysied me in a state of shock.

My adrenaline in my body skyrocketed and I had a burst of braveness to investigate. I picked up a steak knife and I grabbed it and got into a defensive position near the door and was about to open it when the phone rang and now I was really scared and in my mind I thought it would be like in the movies how the killer would call the person. I thought in my mind it was now or never and I burst through the door and surveyed the area. My mind was in a million different places wondering how and why the shelf fell. I was not complaining though and was actually joyful that it wasn’t a robber and the cars were outside because we were cleaning the garage. I was just worried how my family would react to a shelf being knocked over and I'm the only one in the house.

When my family came home my blood was still pumping in shock of what happened. I got in a little trouble and my mind was all over the place. It took me a while to tell my parents what happened and why the shelf fell. In the end we had to clean it all up but I realized that if I hadn’t decided to investigate the noise that my mental health would decline. Now in life I learned that chaotic events makes me paranoid about everything, but I am feeling better and having the time of my life.

The SB

It was my turn to step up…

I walked up to the microphone,

ready as can be.

My palms were sweaty,

knees weak,

and my chest felt heavy.

I felt as I was being weighed down

by all the eyes watching me

Me,

Only me

“Your word is hazmat”.

I took a deep breath,

And started. H

Pause. A

Pause. S

Pause. M

Pause. A

Pause. T

DING

I froze

like a broken-down train

holding up the tracks.

I snapped back to reality,

and walked off the stage,

crying my eyes out.

I’ll never forget how to spell that word

until my days are over.

Brother

Mean,

angry,

unworthy,

ungrateful

my brother Leonardo he

once broke a chair almost a table

now this is all true, but me

I'm just like you.

Not Everyone Here is Dead

“Kids, Dinner’s ready!” Of course, I already knew this- the aroma of sweet potatoes and steaming pork filled the room with an unavoidable smell, so much so it was overwhelming. My brother, Eric, rushed downstairs flinging his bag over his shoulder. He had football practice at 7:00, and it was already 6:53. Luckily, we lived right down the street, so he grabbed a potato and sped out the door. He had questionable ways of doing whatever it was he did, but he did it nonetheless, so no one really cared.

At around 8:30, I heard his team outside the door, prattling over whatever it was boys talked about. The chatter died out and my brother stepped inside, taking no care that people were sleeping. My other older brother, the middle child, was still awake at his computer screen, typing away as usual. It was impossible to get any sleep when all the noises of the house were in perfect harmony like this. That, however, was unlucky for me, I had a test the next day. Studies show that children who get more sleep perform better in academic activities. “Liam! Shut the door!” I shouted, agitated. I turned on a calming melody on my phone and drifted off to the realm of imagination.

8:40 already? I’m so dead. Why did no one wake me up? Why didn’t my alarm go off? Doesn’t matter now, I’m already late. My parents were already at work, so nobody was home. Maybe no one will notice if I stay in bed…

I woke up in a cold sweat. Just a dream. My subconscious mind must have known the consequences of sleeping in, because when I glanced at the clock- 5:30. Just enough time to study, even though I know I’ll pass.

I take after my brother, Liam, more than I do either of my parents. My mother is a sales rep for a marketing company called Oak Industries. My father is a coach for a high school football team- it explains why Eric loves football so much. Liam is only a junior in high school, but he’s already gotten scholarships to colleges around the country. I am 13, but skipped seventh grade because I was “too intelligent for someone my age.”

The school day was pretty normal, I aced the test as I thought, girls spread gossip, The jocks started a food fight in the cafeteria which I humbly opted out of. But something toward the end of the day caught my attention- In the halls, I overheard someone talking about “A disease that makes you believe you’re dead.” I’ll have to look into it after school.

As soon as I get home, I race upstairs, throw my backpack on my bed and sit at my computer. I open a new tab and start researching. “A disease that makes you think you’re dead.” Nothing shows up at first, then one result. Cotard’s syndrome- The undead disease. I click on the article, cautious of what I might find.

Recently, there has been an outbreak of mindless zombies walking around cities, patrolling the streets without rest. Scientists wonder why this phenomenon has been happening, and the culprit is believed to be a mental plague- Walking corpse syndrome. This disease was discovered in 1880 by Jules Cotard, However, it has been kept from the public for reasons unknown. Some believe this has to do with government testing, in an attempt to create a tireless workforce. The results were satisfactory, but had dire consequences. As to why there’s been a sudden rise in cases recently, our questions are left unanswered.

I sit back in my chair, unsure what to think. Part of me wants to know more, but the other wants to stay out of something that might be dangerous. Curiosity gets the best of a bad situation, and I open another tab. Cotard’s disease. Enter. No results show up, so I wait for it to load like last time. But nothing happens. I tried refreshing, but still, nothing showed up. Perplexed, I went to Liam’s room to consult him about the rumors.

“So, what have you heard about the disease?” I said with a rather accusing tone. “No more than you have,” He replied, seeming just as puzzled as I was. He was excellent with technology, so I asked him to dig deeper using his “techno-wizardry.” That is what I called hacking into top-secret databases to find dirty secrets about anyone he would ever need to blackmail. He agreed, though I knew he was already planning on it.

For a day so mediocre, excitement raged through my veins, and I became gradually more impatient as the day carried on. What if this was a government secret? What if the conspiracy was true? No, probably not… but what if?

In the hall, I saw my idiot brother, Eric, and made no attempt of confrontation. He was with his athlete friends, causing a ruckus and yelling through the halls. This reminded me of the cavity under the stairs, where Liam and I would leave notes for each other when we wanted to communicate throughout the school day. If anyone were to find the notes, they most likely wouldn’t understand them anyway, for they were written in morse code.

.- -. -.-- / -- --- .-. . / .. -. ..-. --- / --- -. / - .... . / -.. .. ... . .- ... . ..--.. ~ Any more info on the disease?

Class was about to start, so I figured I’d check back after lunch. The odd thing was, when I came back to the stairwell, no note was there. At first I thought my brother just hadn’t seen the note yet, but the matter was, there was no note to see - someone had taken it.

Why I am the best

I AM the best basketball player

In 6th grade for many reasons

Most people have height...

But can’t use it

My defense doesn’t let anything

Get past me its pure

Amusement

Even the small players can’t

Get past me.

1 of 2 things will happen.

1, I will swat their shot to

The bleachers. Or 2

I put on lockdown defense

And stay right on them

To the point where

They are forced to pass it.

The people that are my size

Are the easiest.

My skill simply destroys

Whatever they have.

I have the IQ of a

Point guard.

The shooting of a

Shooting guard.

And the defense of a center.

I put in hard work and

Practice every day. I also

Work on my vertical.

If you compare me to 10

People I’m gonna outwork

And outshine those 10 people.

Everytime I walk on the court

I know that I’m the best to

Ever walk on it.

Reverse Poetry

I am not enough

I refuse to believe that

People care about me and you

No one cares about anything

It’s not true that

“Love is everywhere”

I don’t care, you don’t care, no one does

It’s not true that

Everyone is happy

No one is happy

I refuse to believe that

someone loves me

Because

“There isn’t a light”

I don’t believe

I am enough

You won’t be happy until your

life is turned around.

A Thief and a Pirate

The crew of the Depredator were pirates. Not the bad kind, but the kind that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Sort of like Robin Hood. If they’re good pirates, why did they name their ship the Depredator, you ask? Don’t ask. They sailed the Atlantic Ocean and stole from the corrupt British soldiers and gave to the poor American colonists who were attempting a revolution. The fledgling American government, led by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson paid quite well for the heroic actions of the Depredator and its crew. They were paid almost $400 a year per person! They were quite satisfied with what they were paid and what they did to earn it. Then, the disappearances came. The British were retaliating against the crew of the Depredator’s crew, who called themselves the Pirates of Depredation. Their crew was disappearing quickly, and the captain, Roger Williams, began to think that there was a British spy in their midst.

“Captain,” the first deck officer, Logan “Caiman” Sanders said.

“Deck Officer Sanders. Have you found the ‘person thief’ yet?” Williams said.

“No sir. But I believe we have a lead. A couple of our people have been caught sending unauthorized messages with messenger pigeons. They await you in the brig for interrogation, sir,” Sanders said.

“Take me there now, Deck Officer. If one of them really is our spy, then they must be dealt with immediately,” Williams told him. They began the walk toward the stern (the back) of the ship, where there was a hatch that opened into the lower two levels. Once they arrived, they opened the hatch and descended into the levels below. They went all the way down to the lowest level: the prison. It was designed to hold victims from the ships that the original owners (real pirates) had destroyed.

“The first prisoner is the lookout from the crow’s nest, sir,” Sanders told Williams.

“Did you catch any of the pigeons or their messages?” Williams replied, looking over the man in the prison cell.

“No, sir. But we believe they were something short like a location because the paper we saw on the pigeon was very small.”

“A location? Why would a kidnapper send the British a location?”

“So that the British navy could pick up the people maybe?”

“I doubt that. More likely the people are just being killed and thrown overboard. This prisoner here is just a traitor. Make him walk the plank.” The man behind the bars’ eyes widened.

“I was just trying to tell my--” he started.

“And please kill him quickly. He’s quite annoying,” Williams waved off the man’s response.

“I’ll tell the security officer immediately after we’re done with the other prisoners, sir,” Sanders said.

“How many others are there, Deck Officer?”

“Only three others, sir.”

Williams sighed. “Take me to the rest of them. Let’s get this over with.”

“Yes, sir,” Sanders replied, gesturing down the hallway. “Right this way, sir.”

As they walked down the long prison corridor, Williams glanced at the empty cells along the sides.

“Why didn’t we keep them in here, closer to the main deck?” he asked.

“Because since they are all crew members, they know their way around closer to the main deck. If they got out of their cells, it would be quite easy to escape,” Sanders told him. He stopped.

“This should be where the next prisoner is, sir, but they’re not here. Let me check the records.” Sanders set off at a jog to find what cell the missing prisoner was supposed to be in. Williams stopped him and asked what the name of the prisoner was. Then he walked up to the main deck and checked the main records.

It appeared that the name was back in the records as a crew member who was currently on break in the cabin deck. Before he could even set his eyes on the cabin deck, he was thrown to the ground by a powerful kick from behind. He rolled over and got a good look at his attacker before his face was stomped on.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Williams woke up to find Sanders and two other crew members standing over his bloodied body. He looked around and realized that he wasn’t on the Depredator anymore.

“The Depredator was burned, sir,” Sanders told him. “We’re in Britain now.”

“Britain? Was I out long enough for you to take me to Britain?” Williams asked, fully awake now.

Sanders didn’t respond.

“You? You were the spy?” Williams asked.

“No one else had free run of the ship.” Sanders gestured to one of the other traitors. The pirate walked out of the room that they were in. He came back moments later with a British soldier wearing an iconic “redcoat”. The soldier was wearing a general’s insignia.

“I see that I merit officers of very high rank,” Williams said drily.

“You have cost the British army quite a few ships and you most certainly merit someone of my rank,” the officer replied sharply. “In fact, his highness, King George III himself wants to witness your execution. With that, he was knocked out by the butt of the officer’s gun.

He was taken to a courtyard with two more Redcoats standing on either side of a large stone platform. He was dropped on the platform. As he awoke, he watched as an honor guard of eight more British soldiers walked in. Behind them, King George, in all his glory along with two soldiers flanking him. The soldiers formed two lines on either side of Williams. King George walked down the line of soldiers and stopped right in front of the stone pedestal. He opened his mouth and was about to speak when a hurried-looking officer came through the door.

“King George! My lord! General Cornwallis has lost Yorktown!” the officer said, bowing in front of the king. George took a step back.

“Cornwallis lost Yorktown?! The idiot! We might as well have lost the war now!” the king yelled at the now frightened officer. While all the soldier’s attention was on the king and the officer, Williams made his move. He kicked the soldier next him, wincing through the pain of his broken jaw and nose. The soldier fell and lunged for the one on his other side. By then, the other ten soldiers were loading their muskets. He grabbed the already half loaded gun of the guard on the ground on his right and finished loading it right as the soldiers let off their first round of shots. One hit him in the leg and the rest missed. As they reloaded and he seethed in agony, he took aim and fired at one of the soldiers. They went down as he had. Then the rest fired again and shot his arm twice and his chest once. He collapsed. The king unsheathed his sword and prepared to strike. A loaded rifle from one of the downed soldiers sat next to Williams. He suddenly grabbed it and shot the king as a redcoat shot him. Williams hit the ground and died seconds later while his shot at the king was centimeters from George’s heart.

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All the remaining pirates were ordered to be summarily executed. Soon, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the American Revolutionary War was over. King George III did not die until years later in 1821 when his medicines were poisoned with arsenic . However, the Thirteen Colonies became the superpower known as the United States of America, or USA. In 1947 though, a new war started in the U.S. They needed someone like Williams to join the CIA, NSA, FBI, and other U.S. spy agencies. They found that person in Aldrich Ames, but things didn't go as well for them as they thought it would...

Missing

“Last night on July 9th, 2012 in California, a group of eight campers was reported missing at the Lake Forest Campground in Tahoe City. All available police in the area have been routed there to find out what happened. As of right now, we only know where the campers slept, but we have not found the bodies. There are pieces of fur scattered around their campsite, but no blood stains or leftover bones. This disproves the theory that they could have been attacked by a bear or a pack of wolves.”

That’s what the news reporter said at the campsite.

I’m Detective Suey, and right now, I’m trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of a group of campers. But I’m at a dead end.

No footprints, no bloodstains, no journals, no nothing. I even called up a professional forensic anthropologist to examine the fur found around the campsite, but we couldn’t find anything.

We waited 12 days for a clue that could at least help us find a trail.

At last, somebody reported that they found footprints around 2 miles away from the campsite. Sure, there were footprints, but they were on a hiking trail, so we didn’t know if it was the campers or not.

We decided to move all the units over there and start searching. It took a while, but we finally tracked down the footprints to a place around 16 miles away.

Except that’s where the footprints stopped and disappeared. We couldn‘t find another trace of them. The only thing that showed us where they might have gone was giant footprints about as wide as my car. We decided to follow the footprints.

Another 2 miles, the massive footprints ceased at a cave. Why were so many footprints popping out of existence?

2 officers went into the cave. We waited for about 10 minutes. It was nighttime now.

They still hadn’t come out. I yelled into the cave.

No response. I yelled again.

This time, they shot back at us with “We found them!”

The air I was holding in my throat finally sighed; I was relieved to find that the campers were still alive.

I started questioning the campers after they had come out of the cave, asking how there were no footprints in their campsite and what had happened. I thought we could get some answers out of them, but they apparently replied with an “I don’t know,” to every question.

As we walked back to the cars to take them home, they kept telling us that we shouldn’t be close to the campsite at nighttime. When they caught sight of their tents, they started panicking and trying to run off. We managed to get them back home though.

We then tried to figure out what happened. We went back to the cave and tried to find evidence. The only thing we found was an unlit fire pit and a gilded object. We decided we would see if the golden thing belonged to the campers, so we took it.

We examined both of the objects but there was no trace of what had happened. When we got out of the cave, it was windy and dark. Heavy raindrops poured down on us and thunder rumbled all around us, the water puddles held in our Boonie hats cascading down the edge of our brim. We suspected that it was just another bad weather day, but we sensed something was up. We could hear grunts and feel footprints.

We all started looking around the forest shaken with fear, thinking something was stalking us. Finally, I saw it.

A tall, dark, furry figure lurking in the shadows.

And it was right behind me.

Its putrid breath surging down my neck and its deep fur burying me inside itself. It was Bigfoot. I tried to run but it felt as if its hair was strangling me, preventing me from escaping it in all of its horrors.

The other officers didn’t see me, so I tried to let them know what was happening. But it was impossible; the creature was dampening my voice.

I decided to throw the golden object at one of the officers to get their attention. I didn’t hit them.

What did happen was Bigfoot let go of me and started charging toward the object.

It picked it up and ran into the forest.

I was finally free, and I immediately told my fellow officers what had just happened. They didn’t seem to believe me, however.

Once I got home, I washed up and made myself dinner. Then I went to one of the campers’ houses to ask them a couple of questions. I described my experience to them and after I was finished, they replied with something that scared the soul out of my heart.

“That’s what I saw. That’s what I saw before I passed out.”

Spooky D’al a Mystery

I was staring straight at him. He had 2 gold teeth, a pirate hat, a hook for a hand, and a red bandana painting his pale face. He was holding a bag with my gold. I was going to do anything to get that gold back, even if it meant fighting him in a mall parking lot.

He shifted feet as he put the bag behind him - teasing me. I met him about a year ago, and we formed a duo. He was my partner, my team, and my friend. And he betrayed me and used my research, my tools, and my ships to find the treasure, and keep it for himself.

“That's my gold in your hands.” I said as I inched forward to him. “No it's not.” he said, “I found it, not you. How foolish of you to think this is yours,” he chuckled. I slid out my sword from its case, and held it in front of me.

He laughed as he pulled out his, and we started to fight. I was blocking all of his jabs, however he was doing the same. I finally hit him in the stomach and I saw his limp body fall onto the black concrete, and blood spilled out of him like paint.

I won. I won back my gold, and was going to protect it at all costs. I fled the crime scene and went on my boat and sailed across the sea.

The Spooky Mystery

Someone had just stolen $10,000,000 and the cops were hot on his tail. He got in his car and started the engine driving 70MPH (this is not a very realistic story). He started to turn right, but then he swerved to turn left and then disappeared.

Our perp was Jimmy Vanish, the zombie. The cops tried everything, except something highly unpredictable, Bob, the dragon. They called him Bob because they needed a quick and easy name and because no one else in the police force had that name. Bob couldn’t talk, but he could breathe fire. Unfortunately, he was sort of uncontrollable and the cops hadn’t actually used him yet. They didn’t know how to make him breathe fire or fly or even walk.

So they had 2 options. Let Jimmy take $10,000,000 or let Bob off his tight leash. The cops had decided to go with the 2nd option, but first they had to track him. Tracking was easier than they thought. They tracked him to a trucking place. He was asleep. Easy come, easy go. Jim was in custody.

But what the cops thought was Jimmy Vanish was actually a guy Jim had paid to go to the trucking place. The cops had lost his scent, and were going to secondary sources. Jim was seen doing suspicious activity in an abandoned warehouse. Typical bad guy hideout.

The cop’s wanted to go in guns blazing, but they decided to go in dragon’s blazing instead. So the police set up a perfect plan, and they trained Bob (the dragon) to do all of the things that dragon’s do.

They went to the warehouse and saw Jimmy. And so when Jim saw the dragon, he shivered in his boots and decided to stash the money and lock it in a safe. The dragon burned down the place, and they had Bob save Jim from the fire.

Of course Jimmy Vanish wasn’t too pleased with the results of Bob saving him from the fire, because his stash was found, and he was in a cell for 10-ish years. Bob, on the other hand, got plenty of belly rubs and treats, and the cops got $10,000,000 back. They could finally sit back and relax, or so they thought…

“Rain Clouds”

Rain is what makes me Rain is what defines me.

Rain can be loud and crashing

Rough but soft

Rain comes in different ways goes away at times yet doesn't like being alone

Rain can be calm and soothing

but also creep up on you at the worst moments.

Rain is nice to have around

but also not

Rain can ruin days

or make them better.

Nobody can control when it comes

or where it comes from.

Rain has a lot of mood swings.

U n p r e d i c t a b l e

Unpredictable you cannot understand even if you tried

only the people they want to open up to

cannot even comprehend their mind.

You can ask but even the person themself can't explain.

Dream Star

The Dream Star shining in the night sky. You wish upon it hoping you’ll fly. Shimmering with dream dust falling from its arms. The dust falls in your hand and spells “special”. You get the feeling that something is watching over you Hoping that you’ll succeed. A few years passed by and you’ve achieved your heart’s greatest desire. You’ve found love and started a family. You’re successful like you wished. Then you come upon that same dream star Noticing that nothing has changed. As the dust falls from the star, You imagined all the fun you had after you met the star. The dust falls in your hand and spells “proud” Starting a sugary symphony in your heart. Another few years have passed and you’re laying in your death bed Knowing that your symphony of life is about to end. You see that same star again and the dust falls again in your hand spelling “rest”. As you close your eyes you hear a whisper saying all the words that you wanted to hear from the time you first saw the Dream Star.

Darkness

I open my eyes to complete darkness. I call out only to hear my echo call back. I reach out hoping to find something tangible. With one step, I fall. I scream. The darkness is disrupted. My scream ends, when I feel a hand on my arm. I’m no longer falling, but floating. The figure whispers in my ear, as if telling me a secret, “Are you ready to die?”, it says. It’s scratchy voice temporarily made my heart stop. “Go away!” I scream. I fall again when the bony hand lets go. I fall silently now, in indignation. I feel like some sort of tribute now. It’s like I’ve been sent to die. I see a translucent light, and feel a sharp pain pulse through my body. I feel like I’m in an ocean, a current of water pulling me to an unknown destination. I feel my body touch land. My primary thought is, when will I die? I try to open my eyes, but something, or someone is holding them shut. I now feel fire around me, burning away my skin. I panic because of my pyrophobia, and clamor around, blindly for safety. Smoke fills my lungs, as I feel my heartbeat slow. I collapse onto the soft sand. The sand underneath me starts to sift away, and I feel myself falling again. Suddenly I float up, over the burning fire below me. I’m no longer hurt, but feel like a new person. I try to open my eyes again, yet they still won’t open. I, for some reason, am not scared. I feel my limbs spread unwillingly. Somehow I know that I’m in the sky. A sky, with stars galore, was holding me. Though I can’t see them , I can feel the light shining against my eyelids. I stop, I’m dead.

The Sounds of Silence

Tip-tap of shoes on the floor,

Echoing throughout the halls

Like the lonely call of a bird

Abandoned by the ages.

Faint sound of brass and ivory,

Striked by eager hands

Beckoning ears eager to listen

Like a sweet siren´s song.

Chattering of disciples,

Young and old

All eager to learn

Like a story yet to be told.

Was it possible that sounds so familiar

Sounded so odd

Framed by the absence of life?

I Am From

I am from hockey stick

From CCM and Bauer

I am from the garage

Small, dirty, and hot

I am from grass

Growing green

I’m from Christmas and Hockey cards

From Mario and Mittens

I’m from the two-story tall house

From good eyes and short people

I’m from Christian and Baptist

I’m from the hospital in Fort Worth

Chicken sandwiches and southwest chicken

From the my cousin is afraid of black toilets

I am from hockey stick

Word Map Poem

When a tree develops

It matures

Eagles

Red colors

Flying in howling air

Breathing

Side to side

A tree is made

Trees are fun and sweet

All for their own

A home for all

Mom

Your mom,

How much do you

Respect her?

How much do you

Appreciate her?

Now, you might say

You respect and

Appreciate her,

But do you show it?

Your mom,

She’s over here

Thinking you hate her

So she’s trying

To spend more time with you,

What do you do?

You yell at her

You tell her to go away

And even so

She still loves you.

What will you do

The day she’s gone?

Cry and regret everything

Show her how special she is

How much you love her

How she’s everything to you.

Do it for her happiness

My weeping willow

The old great weeping willow

In my backyard is the one I go to To climb to sit and watch the sunset I sit under here year ‘round by the lake I love the most

My weeping willow for when the time comes she will be cut down

I know a new clone will prosper to become a beautiful new one and be mine again for she is at last My weeping willow tree again.

K- Keeps promises

A- Accepts everyone as they are

Y- You always feel just at home

C- Crazy, but you get used to it, or maybe you don’t. It doesn’t bother me

E- Extroverted introvert

E- Extra fierce, fun-sized, but don’t call me cute

My Life

No Place To Fit In

I try and try every day to fit in. Every day it's a different group. My parents always say, "stay with the kids you fit in with." But I struggle to find them. The kids I can talk with, walk with, and hang out with, all while trusting them.

I hang out with kids that share some of the same interests as me. But give off red flags my parents tell me to avoid. There seems to be no one in the world who is just the right match for me. It's like the world doesn't want me to have real friends.

Why?

Why? I ask myself this every night before I lay my head down to rest. Why do I put up with this cruel world and the things it does to us people? Like we are the pawns in chess?

Why do I listen to the drama? I keep telling myself that I'm done with this world. But I can never pull myself out of this hole the world has put us in.

“Where Do I Go?”

Do you see that rock?

among the group of other rocks?

The one that is a different color and shape?

The one that should be with the other group of rocks?

Big but small with each group available

looks normal but has been through many many things

somewhere inside, lays a crack

But on the outside, looks bright and smooth

With nowhere to go, nor or anywhere to stay

In the end, it will end up with a group

Word Map Poem

My wonderful tree,

Is as stunning as can be.

Trees love the harvest plenty,

They make me want to order a venti!

It glimmers in the rain,

They all look so calm and sane.

Trees look so cozy,

Perfect for a nestling who’s nosy.

Why do they billow,

Like a colossal willow?

Might l tell you why bees

Like trees?

Trees are fun and sweet,

And they are all unique!

Suddenly the sun ruptures the clouds,

Abruptly bringing the tree a crowd.

I Am From

I am from the heart

From Febreeze and Ramen

I am from the screened in porch

Calm, happy, silent

I am from Oranges

Citrus and bold

I’m from traveling and craziness

From John and Brianna

From colors we were born to mourn and flag from me

I’m from the Lord, all mighty

I’m from Newhaven Street

Fish and corn

From the family whose first word is “no”

I am from trees

Bondage

Day by Day

Night by Night

Fight to survive from the torture around me

Two cents a day

Monday-Friday

Sunrise to sunset

At the end of the day

Home is comfort

Yet there is still a fear my husband won't return

Home is safe

Yet people die inside of their ‘safe places’

Home is quiet

Yet I can hear the mournful sound of people suffering

Sound of the Death

Ligaments torn from heavy woven basket

Awfully ripped and bloody hands

Very blistered and sore legs

Excruciating heavy and worn out feet

Relieved that I make it out alive

Yet feeling dead inside

Dreams My words are jumbled in a smudge The infinite potential of savored dreams Beyond the stars in the peace of a dream cloud Is a shimmer of hope marvelous and pure Potential beyond our eyes

D R E A M S

a key typed into the typewriter

making dreams come to life

a key typed into the typewriter

creating a whole new world

a key typed into the typewriter

expressing one's true feelings

a key typed into the typewriter

allowing others to escape

a key typed into the typewriter

starting a realm of possibilities

a key typed into the typewriter

offering security and protection

a key typed into the typewriter

beginning an adventure

a key typed into the typewriter

raising the expectations

a key typed into the typewriter

changing your view

a key typed into the typewriter

washing away any stress

a key typed into the typewriter

stopping the world's rotation

a key typed into the typewriter

putting you to sleep

Falling

In the window

I watched the little beads Of water

Race down the cold glass

They would

Tip

Tap

Tip

Tap

For hours

Just falling

And after a while,

They would make it back To the clouds

And do it again

That was their whole existence. I admit

It is very admirable

But why?

All they do is

Fall

Over

And over

Inspired

How does one become inspired by someone's actions? Brie Larson, a marvel actor, should be an inspiration to all women for everything she has done. After her billion dollar movie, Captain Marvel came out, Larson has been an open women's right activist; she's been a major influence on many others and me. Her dedication to women's rights is truly inspiring.

While working on her marvel film ,it struck her that she would be able to go public with the message of gender equality. It gave her a larger platform to contribute to feminism. She wanted to reach out to more people. Larson adds “It was really powerful and exciting. And it’s also allowed me opportunities ‘coz the film is so big, I knew I would be able to share certain concepts on a much larger scale than I’d been able to previously in independent films and even carry that over in the press tours”. She understands that by her celebrity status she can be influential to anyone who follows her. It inspires me because many celebrities now aren't willing to use their influence on bigger topics like Larson is so keen on.

Larson went through an interview about wage gaps, and made a strong point about how women should ask for what you deserve. Marvel’s first all women film made a billion dollars in the box office and Larson got 5 million dollars for it. Her first marvel film and she got more than RDJ and Chadwick Boseman for their first stand alone film. “Do it for the women that

are gonna come after you. Do it for the next one. Do it for the future you.” Larson makes a deep quote that should be an inspiration for all women to get the payment they deserve. Which really shows every woman out there that they deserve the best for what they do.

Larson made a very interesting point about how movie critics aren’t as diverse as you think. 80% of movie critics are men and 2.5% are women of color. People weren’t happy about how she said “I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work about A Wrinkle in Time. It wasn’t made for him! I want to know what it meant to women of color, biracial women, to teen women of color.” They even tried to boycott her movie. Movies have meaning to them and a purpose sometimes they are directed towards a different audience. Larson isn't afraid of people who are boycotting her or don't approve of her. She stands by what she says which I find inspiring. Brie Larson, a marvel actor, should be an inspiration to all women for everything she has done. She cares about women’s rights, and what we deserve. A Marvel Star who focuses on what's best for women. An inspiration to many she looks out for us and the future generation of women. She showed me what's best for me and that's what truly inspires me to be the best me. You can hate Captain Marvel, but not Brie Larson.

Thoughts

Never would I have thought someone could make me feel this way

And it all started with

Your touch, that holds the feeling of warmth and safety

Your eyes, the way they sparkle and when you see something you love

Your smile, infectious every time I would see a glimpse

Your never ending love, shown by every action you do

Your heart, so caring - personality, letting me know you're always there

Your laugh, always bringing joy to the room

But I guess we never truly know what we have til we lose it, Right?

For “Maya” a child from the Holocaust

Today I write for you, Maya

Love was all you needed, nothing more

You deserved to live somewhere better

Your life had just started

and it had to be taken away.

The world is cruel

You didn’t deserve this

To be punished for something that you couldn’t control.

The hopelessness that is melancholy,

Just like others, she was full of despondency.

It’s upsetting how sad it is,

To hear about the awful conditions she had to go through.

So little.

So petrified, will she make it?

No.

For her body was like a feather,

She was just six.

Woefully, she was murdered,

By one who was unhinged.

It tears me apart to see the discouragement

So melancholic.

At the time, unhappiness for all was inevitable.

This One Night

The moon glowed cold on this wicked night. It was a night to be remembered, where all the monsters were no longer scary. We have been deemed scary and gruesome, we have seen witches, wizards, ghosts, and more, and some of us are them. We have been on the planet longer, but somehow we are the ones who became the underdogs. Some got tired of it they opened up, but others were too scared to listen. On this one night, we do as the people do, so we carve pumpkins, decorate our homes, put up lights. We do what they do, except we don't dress up because we are free and accepted for this one day. So next time you see a costume that looks a little too realistic. It might not be a costume at all.....

The storm and her

She's as cold as

a stormy night.

Her heart is as dark as

a void.

And there she was

sitting alone,

staring at the storm.

The storms calms her down,

it makes her not feel alone,

the storm is the only friend

she has and

the storm also liked her.

Shes happy when she's

alone, with the storm.

She meets the storm

at a place she doesn't know,

but she's not scared to be there,

not until someone finds her not

until today.

As she hears someone come to her

she runs and doesn't look back,

while she runs the storm screams for her,

all she hears is BOOM! , and then she hears

the lighting CRACK!,

she realizes someone actually likes her,

the storm and she left it,

alone

like she is,

alone.

She was on the floor, crying her soul out

She screamed into the pillow

Because, nobody asked if she is ok ?

Nobody wants to talk to her

but yet

Everyone makes her cry

Everyone ignores her

will she ever be noticed?

Cinderella in High School

Once upon a time a sweet, smart girl named Bella lived with her two mean, selfish sisters and ugly stepmother. They treated her like a slave. She cooked, cleaned, washed the laundry, did the homework, and any other chores they could think of.

One day this new kid named Joshua came to their school. Every girl instantly fell in love with him. Everyone except for Bella. He might be cute, but Bella was more focussed on school. She doesn’t have any time to obsess over some cute guy.

Her stepsisters on the other hand were obsessed with him. Apparently he was some pop star or something. There was this costume ball coming up and both Stacy and Grace wanted to pick out beautiful costumes to impress Joshua. So they went to the mall.

Bella really wanted to go, but her stepmother wouldn’t allow her to. Instead she gave her a list full of chores to do, so Bella decided to do her chores as fast as she could. Then she waited until her stepmom left before she snuck out to go to the ball.

Bella wore a beautiful robin hood costume that she made herself. Once she got there it was quite clear that she had the most beautiful costume there. Everyone was talking about it. Some even tried to guess who she was, but luckily her hood and mask hid her face. She couldn’t risk getting caught by her stepsisters.

Suddenly this guy in a drago costume came up to her and asked her to dance. She agreed. Bella and the Dragon talked all night. They were about to reveal who they were when Bella looked at the time and realised she had to go.

She quickly grabbed her bag and ran out, but when she did she dropped her notebook. The dragon picked it up and vowed to find the girl who it belonged to.

The next day at school there was a long line of girls in front of Joshua. Apparently they were all trying to figure out what was inside a notebook, her notebook. After school Bella built up the courage and went over to Joshua. She told him that the notebook was filled with her sketches of clothes. And they lived happily ever after.

I Am

I am slobbery kisses and dirt on my cleats.

I wonder how my life will be complete

I hear the music in the streets

I see beyond my feet

I want to be the best I can be

I am slobbery kisses and dirt on my cleats.

I pretend we have won this game

I feel the pain in my chest

I touch the base

I worry I won't make it to third

I cry I won't make it home

I am slobbery kisses and dirt on my cleats.

I understand the loud voices

I say follow your dreams

I dream to never say goodbye

I try to make everyone happy

I hope to never let you go

I am slobbery kisses and dirt on my cleats.

Not even the double digits yet

Memories fully start developing at the age of 7,

so imagine having only one year of your entire life to remember…

No chance or opportunity to live out your life.

No chance of escape…

No glimpse of freedom…

No normal childhood…

Everything taken away from you

by the time you were born!

No say in anything...and no way to change it…

This was the sad reality of Annie Horowicz

A victim of the Holocaust.

Flowers

I sat and watched the little kids come towards me,one of the little kids asked me if I was going to grow big and tall like all the other flowers. I slowly became sad then all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my back. I looked back and saw one of the kids holding my beautiful bright petals, I began to welt in sadness. The next day i watched as the kids walked into the classroom and sit down then suddenly the teacher walks up to me and shows me my beautiful petal on a beautiful piece of paper with mounds and mounds of glitter and paint.My mouth dropped wide open and i began to stand up tall, and proud with seeing my beautiful petal being seen as one of the most colorful art works in the class.

With an astonishing 20 million Youtube subscribers and an average of 50 million views a month, there is no doubt of the impact Mark Rober has left on our planet. Throughout his ten years on the platform, his enticing and selfless projects have been nothing short of amazing. His engineering brilliance, selfless acts, and dedication to his work are the reasons that Mark Rober is my icon.

Mark Rober has done several impeccable acts for our community and our environment. He has raised money to plant 20 million trees, thrown two surprise birthday parties for cancer survivors, and now he is raising money to remove 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans. I have made it my goal, because of his work, to always care for our environment and to help the less fortunate. He has taught me to think more about others, and to help anyone I possibly can. I may not be able to match his humongous efforts to protect our planet, but I could make a small impact by remembering to dispose of trash properly or holding the door open for someone.

However, his acts of kindness are not even the main accomplishments Mark is known for. Mark´s engineering brilliance and creativity are some more of his admirable qualities. He has invented two squirrel obstacle courses, flying phones, a domino laying machine, a 15-ton jello pool, and a controllable bowling ball, to name a few. Before his career on Youtube, Mark worked as an engineer at NASA, where he helped put the Mars Rover on the red planet. When It is time to go to college and pursue a career, I want to be an engineer, just like Mark. It would mean the world to me to develop technology that could change the world for the better. However, these projects require an unrivaled amount of dedication.

Mark spends years crafting and constructing to obtain the final product. He puts in several hours of effort to create a better environment for everyone. It is incredible how he can drive himself to complete his tasks. An ordinary person would simply give up when times are tough or never even start in the first place. Mark himself said, ¨But by reframing the learning process and focusing on the cool end goal, the fear of failure is often taken off the table, and learning just comes more naturally.¨ This quote is the center of my everyday life, and when I'm playing games and wasting time, it reminds me of everything else I could be doing. It allows me to realize the time I’m wasting when I could be doing so much more by working on a project that could make a difference in our day-to-day lives.

In the future, I hope to do something for our planet. Whether it's through engineering brilliance, selfless acts, or dedication to my work, I will try my hardest to positively impact the people around me. With dedication and a positive, growth mindset, you could achieve anything you set your mind to.

With an astonishing 20 million Youtube subscribers and an average of 50 million views a month, there is no doubt of the impact Mark Rober has left on our planet. Throughout his ten years on the platform, his enticing and selfless projects have been nothing short of amazing. His engineering brilliance, selfless acts, and dedication to his work are the reasons that Mark Rober is my icon.

Mark Rober has done several impeccable acts for our community and our environment. He has raised money to plant 20 million trees, thrown two surprise birthday parties for cancer survivors, and now he is raising money to remove 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans. I have made it my goal, because of his work, to always care for our environment and to help the less fortunate. He has taught me to think more about others, and to help anyone I possibly can. I may not be able to match his humongous efforts to protect our planet, but I could make a small impact by remembering to dispose of trash properly or holding the door open for someone.

However, his acts of kindness are not even the main accomplishments Mark is known for. Mark´s engineering brilliance and creativity are some more of his admirable qualities. He has invented two squirrel obstacle courses, flying phones, a domino laying machine, a 15-ton jello pool, and a controllable bowling ball, to name a few. Before his career on Youtube, Mark worked as an engineer at NASA, where he helped put the Mars Rover on the red planet. When It is time to go to college and pursue a career, I want to be an engineer, just like Mark. It would mean the world to me to develop technology that could change the world for the better. However, these projects require an unrivaled amount of dedication.

Mark spends years crafting and constructing to obtain the final product. He puts in several hours of effort to create a better environment for everyone. It is incredible how he can drive himself to complete his tasks. An ordinary person would simply give up when times are tough or never even start in the first place. Mark himself said, ¨But by reframing the learning process and focusing on the cool end goal, the fear of failure is often taken off the table, and learning just comes more naturally.¨ This quote is the center of my everyday life, and when I'm playing games and wasting time, it reminds me of everything else I could be doing. It allows me to realize the time I’m wasting when I could be doing so much more by working on a project that could make a difference in our day-to-day lives.

In the future, I hope to do something for our planet. Whether it's through engineering brilliance, selfless acts, or dedication to my work, I will try my hardest to positively impact the people around me. With dedication and a positive, growth mindset, you could achieve anything you set your mind to.