After

Waking up, enjoying a “normal” day, but the definition of “normal” would quickly change. It was a few minutes before tip-off. While in a meeting, I was preparing to sneak glances at the game.

It was that particular moment when our world began to change, and how odd, that change would come due to an event in my city, a small big city in the middle of the country. But change it did, and changes that may remain.

I remember the shock and frantic texts being sent – an NBA game cancelled? Trump calling to shut the border for international travel?

By: MS

Corona in 25 Words

Getting tested is routine now.

Drive up, get swabbed, then go home.

Wait until the next morning — my results are ready.

Red font, not good.

By: Ava Hiser

Quarantine Life in 6 Words

Today was the same as yesterday.

By: Emily Martinez

Ramen

Last night I made some ramen, with toppings too. I boiled some water to make the noodles and two soft-boiled eggs. I marinated and cooked some chicken breasts. I chopped some green onion. I combined some seasoning in a bowl.

Then, I created my dish.

First, I added the noodles to the sauce and mixed them. Second, I placed the chicken on top of the noodles. Third, I added the rest of the toppings: the soft-boiled egg, corn, green onion, and sesame seeds.

I tried to make it look pretty like at the restaurants.

It wasn’t perfect, but it’ll do.

By: Katie Thorisch

Deadly Cleansing

I didn’t think it would be that bad. Nobody explained it to me.

As the fumes filled my mask, I felt the tears well up. The burning sensation filled my mouth. My nose dripped in solidarity. I felt the tears fall.

I couldn’t let any of the others see my pain. What would they think of me? How could they count on me to help them if they saw me this way?

Then, the pain went away, and I was left feeling refreshed and born anew. The stench of my past mistakes was washed away.

Damn, these mints are strong.

By: Caleb Pinson

2020

In January we saw the red flags but chose to ignore them.

February came and we pretended it wasn’t real until it was too close to ignore.

We tripped over March and all hell broke loose. Far worse before it got any better, but somehow it feels like we haven’t seen the worst yet.

We think we’re doing the best we can, but unfortunately, by the time it’s through with us, we will only have regrets in hindsight.

If only we knew how well we were hobbling ourselves. This year we stumbled upon a tragedy that we can’t stop living.

By: SV

A Long Winter

As Jacob left his house to pick up groceries for the first time that month, he noticed something was off. There were too many people out and about. Were we not in a global pandemic that had already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives?

Jacob asked himself why the bars were full and the shops packed to the brim.

He left the grocery store that day and took off his mask and gloves to spend yet another day at home, protecting others.

“Why?” he wondered. Do they not care about others like he did?

By: Adam Khan

Fed Up

As things got worse, the people grew more wary of their role in the lives of others. “Why should I halt my life so others can live out their own?”

What these people didn’t understand was how desperate the situation was. Hundreds of thousands of their fellow countrymen could be saved if the priorities of the group were placed above the priorities of individuals. Isn’t this the social contract they had fought for so desperately?

It was becoming more and more evident who was selfish and who cared about the most vulnerable members of society.

Which side were you on?

By: Adam Khan

We are Living Through the Future History Textbooks

2020 is the year we all expected greatness from. We wanted growth, joy, spontaneity, excitement, and purpose. Turns out, we got played.

Instead, we got: death, protests, confusion, anger, violence, and uncertainty.

With all the new, comes longing for the past.

“Let’s go back to the way things were.”

But isn’t that what got us here? Isn’t that how we arrived at this momentous year?

How do we ensure we do better as humans, as people? There is a large demand to return to normal.

But after this, do we even know what normal is? Would we even recognize it?

By: GWVT

Love Goes On, Forever

It feels good to move back home.

It was the last place I saw her alive, the last place I kissed her goodbye, and the last place I would hear her say, “I love you; see you tonight.” Never did I think those words would come back to haunt me. She died that day of a heart attack.

Tonight, the fireflies came out for the first time this summer.

As I planted flowers, a grandpa and his granddaughter walked by on their way to fish at the lake.

Life goes on with or without us.

It’s good to be home.

By: SK

My Mom’s Ice Cream

Once upon a time, there was an ice cream store on the corner of my street. They were known for their unicorn ice cream. All the children in the neighborhood screamed for ice cream during summer.

My family was so poor we couldn’t afford unnecessary expenses like buying ice cream.

One day I asked my mom to buy me the famous unicorn ice cream. She said no to me; instead she proposed to make me one at home. I agreed with her and told her that I would help make it.

It turned out to be my favorite ice cream.

Summer days scream for ice cream.

By: Lumingo Lubobo

Empty Chairs

Newly empty chairs haunt Christmas dinner.

By: Mikayla Chandler

Dreams

In class, I looked at him across the room and threw a crumpled up piece of paper at him with my handwriting in it. He opened it and smiled.

I woke up.

I chased after him but once I touched his back, he disappeared.

I woke up.

I could hear his voice but he was nowhere to be found. I was in darkness.

I woke up.

Why do I keep having dreams about this boy I do not know? Is he merely a memory so strong I cannot seem to get rid of, or does it mean something more?

By: NC

Breaking Up

Betty and James were high-school sweethearts.

When Betty left for college a year before James, they promised to continue long-distance.

It went as expected. Two months of phone tag, jealous fights, and sleepless nights was enough to push them past their limit.

They broke up over the phone, at 2:00 a.m, Betty sitting in the stairwell of her dorm, James lying on his parents’ roof. A small fight started by two tired and frustrated teens escalated quickly, leaving Betty walking around campus despondently and James crying on the cold metal housetop.

Neither went to school the next day.

By: Ann Marie Dong

Growing Up

Betty and James were grown-up adults.

Now Betty was starting her senior year in college; James had just finished trade-school. It was going well. Four years of hard work, new friends, and selfish nights was enough to push them past their heartsickness.

They grew up over the years.

At 21, Betty was about to graduate college, and James had gained real-world experiences. Neither thought of the past anymore.

But, one night, Betty stumbled across an old picture. She was surprised to feel no regret, only nostalgia for the youth of 17.

And James? James had just met his future wife.

By: Ann Marie Dong

Love

Auburn and Evan giggled together, hands intertwined as they strolled down the driveway of Auburn’s family home.

Her mother, Catherine, sat, perched on the porch swing, admiring the young lovers and reminiscing on a happier time. She was happy with her husband, mostly. He was just so plain in both his appearance and personality.

Catherine couldn’t help but to catch herself thinking about her first love, Derek. She often wished she could run her fingers through his luscious red hair one last time.

By: anon.

A Rejected Proposal (I)

Outside the train window, the countryside was pitch black. Every so often, lights from a small city appeared on the Spanish countryside.

The young man stared out the window, not seeing much. Even though it was late, he couldn’t sleep.

Suddenly he noticed a young nun sitting a few seats in front of him. Her face was calm and serene, focused on a book. He looked at her and in her face he saw something familiar.

Something about her eyes.

Something he might never see again.

The box still holding a diamond ring suddenly weighed heavy in his pocket.

By: Rachel Averitt

A Rejected Proposal (II)

Maybe in another life I’m still with you.

I don’t say no. I watch you age like wine. And I don’t have any regrets.

I never have to wonder if there’s someone else I can love. I never have to wonder if anyone else can make me happy.

I don’t wonder, because I know the answer.

Just like deep down, I know it now.

By: Rachel Averitt

Freedom

“You coming back with us?” he asked me.

I looked to my left and to my right, and then I realized, I could do whatever I wanted.

By: Emma Kemp

A Terrible Costume

This year for Halloween I want to go as something I’ve never been before.

We often wear costumes of things we want to be, or things we could only imagine in our worst nightmare.

Among the sexy nurses and spooky zombies, I want to be something never before seen — carve a bright smile, match it with clown makeup, wear my best dress.

I want to shock the world and the little old ladies handing me “fun-sized” Snickers bars.

I want to take off my mask and scare the masses.

This year for Halloween I’m going to be happy.

By: Mikayla Chandler

Painting

A boy framed on the wall for public scrutiny. His father’s family tree was enough to garner attention, its roots buried deep in US history, gilded bloodline catching the eyes and envy of the American public. The man’s death made it worse — sealing him in the rigid frame of media attention.

Not to worry. He’d been painted as a poster child since his youth, accustomed to the art piece he was expected to present as one of the Kennedy heirs. So his tread is careful, his decisions heavily considered (when was the last time he made a choice with abandon?).

By: Harana

Carmelo Anthony

Five seconds on the game clock. Jeremy Lin inbounds the ball to Carmelo Anthony, who turns to face Lebron James.

“You took my family.” Carmelo moves to the left.

“You took my friends.” Carmelo moves to the right.

“You took all I ever cared about.” Two seconds on the clock. “I can’t get those back, but I’ll avenge my friends.”

Carmelo goes up; the audience is on their feet. HOODIE MELO SHOT! Lebron tries to block, but it goes over his head, straight into the basket.

Carmelo collapses, exhausted. “Shumpert… I did it. I avenged us.”

Cavs: 103, Knicks: 63.

By: BP

Spontaneous Trips

“Let’s go! Why not?” said Friend 1.

“Well, first of all it’s Tuesday afternoon and it’s a three-hour drive,” Friend 2 explained.

“But it would be so much fun. Think of the memories we can make!” Friend 3 said fervently.

All three looked at Friend 4 who still didn’t look entirely convinced.

“I’ll go if you go!” was all Friend 2 said.

Still not saying anything, but with an apprehensive look on their face, Friend 4 just stared at their food.

“We can be back by tonight! It’s only three!” Friend 1 was trying their hardest to convince them.

“YOLO!”

By: Rohit Thomas

The Terminal Train

It was 10:00 AM when Morgan realized that she was late for her flight home from a weekend of Halloween festivities. The Denver airport was calling her name as she entered her friend’s broken-down Jeep with her travel mate, Caroline.

Morgan checked her overweight bag and ran to the terminal train where “all doors closing” dinged. The doors slammed on her arm and she was separated from her travel mate.

After her near-death experience, she arrived at Gate C, but as the airplane doors closed, the trauma from the train caused her to miss her flight.

By: Caroline Gates

Mornings

Peaceful, at rest. Nestled into a downy cloud, eyes just beginning to open.

A muffled ringing sounds off in my ears.

I squint.

I fumble around the sheets and comforter, looking for the source that ended my rest.

Slamming my hand onto the ringing, I poke at the glass screen to end the noise disturbing my morning, just a few more minutes.

A few few few more minutes pass.

Finally my eyes crack open to mostly open, still unsure of whether or not I want to risk leaving my comfortable position.

Limb by limb I manage to escape the bed.

By: Ava Hiser

End of Time

On a slow Sunday morning a young boy lies on the beach with nothing but calm winds, the warmth of water, and peace.

You hear seagulls, waves crashing and swooshing from the wind. Memorable smells of aromatic sea air, salty waters, and family cookouts.

He feels the sensation of sand between his toes, dry mouth, and warmth. He reaches for water to relieve the sensation of thirst.

The boy lies there to take his time to himself.

He wakes up to see the moonlight in the distance as it reflects off the glossy waters.

Time never really has an end.

By: anon.

Life is Like Ice

A brilliant student at a prestigious medical school threw his pen across the room and angrily cleared his desk with one swing across the fine wood. He was frustrated and depleted. The student didn’t know if he could do another two years of medical school.

After realizing that he just had a mini-tantrum, he decided to get a drink at a bar.

The student stared at his cranberry vodka on the countertop.

He realized that ice eventually melts.

He began to think deeper.

He realized life is like ice: enjoy it and make the best of it before it melts.

By: anon.

The Same Sky

“Another one!” I shout, pointing at a blank space in the sky, once occupied by a shooting star.

How wondrous our sky is, to make us feel so small and insignificant. I feel microscopic sitting under the same sky, watching the same stars mapped and worshipped by billions before me.

The cold biting at my toes suddenly doesn’t feel so important anymore. “It’s overwhelming to think of how we all share the same sky. Everyone before and after us…ever.”

I look to my left to find them already looking back at me, and suddenly I’m more overwhelmed by the present.

We all share the same sky.

By: SV

No Questions Asked Please

The officer tells the adolescent, “I’m assuming you’re quiet because you know that your actions were incorrect and require consequences.”

The adolescent continues to look out the window, reminiscing on the way to the local jail.

“Do you feel cool now? Was it worth earning a few bucks just to end up locked in a cell?” says the officer. His partner chuckles softly.

The adolescent looks at the officer with pain in his eyes and replies, “I’d rather risk being locked in a jail cell than seeing my siblings starve for another day. Don’t judge someone without knowing their story.”

By: anon.

What of These Invisible Things?

How curious, these invisible things.

These invisible things mean more to us than anything we will ever truly grasp and hold. Secrets, love, gratitude.

These invisible things that only hold meaning because we allow them to. How unlike us to allow these meaningless nothings to dictate us, but how terrifying we might become if we allowed ourselves to be free of these invisible things.

Greed, guts, guilt. We boast greatness when these invisible things are the only thing between us and them.

Our complexity is difficult to brand. Are these our strength or simply weakness that we refuse to admit?

Thank goodness for these invisible things.

By: SV

Running Dogs

After a long day lying around the house and chasing the neighbor, the dog stretches out as if to say she worked hard today.

She had accomplished a lot, despite what you might think.

She got in two naps, an hour of tug of war with her dad, and even threw up on her mom’s new rug because she ate too fast after running as fast as she could along the fenceline.

She finally rests her head on her dad’s lap as she lets out a long puppy groan. “It ain’t much, but it’s honest work,” she thinks to herself.

By: Mikayla Chandler

The Dog-Loving Dedicated Photographer

Once upon a time, in a land far far far away, lived a sweet, gentle little photographer.

Now this photographer loved taking pictures, but not just any pictures: she loved taking pictures of her precious dogs. She had four dogs, and they were always running around, both in and out of the house.

One day, she took her camera to take pictures of the dogs, but she couldn’t find the fourth. Frantic, she ran around the house and didn’t cease looking until she found him. Once she found him, she rejoiced and took hundreds and hundreds of pictures to celebrate.

We rejoice when lost is found.

By: MS

The Hidden Treasure

Deagle could feel something within the cloud. He began digging ecstatically for he knew it could only be one thing. Treasure!

Time and again he would dig, try different angles, and even try to bite through.

Inevitably, he tuckers himself out, and rests for the next attempt.

Deagle has yet to find treasure.

By: MA

That’s the Life: One Perspective

I trudged into my room after an unbelievably long day at work. It was late and I was exhausted from spending the day talking with clients and using my customer service voice. I knew people were just trying to find Christmas gifts for their families, but did they all have to show up on the same day every year?

I sighed, kicked off my shoes, and switched on the light.

“Hey there, little one. What did you do today?” I asked.

“Meow,” my cat replied from the same spot on the bed where I had left her early that morning.

By: CM

That’s the Life: Another Perspective

I woke up to the lights flashing on overhead.

Why does she always want to talk when I’m clearly sleeping?

By: CM

Ollie and Rory: Attorneys at Paw

Once upon a time, there was a grey cat named Ollie and a chihuahua named Rory.

The two were quite an unlikely pair. Ollie was confident and authoritative, while Rory was timid and submissive. However, the two had one very important passion in common: animal rights advocacy. They had seen one too many friends be treated poorly, and refused to stand for it any longer.

So, they started a law firm together. They both already had their license, so it was a perfect idea! They would work together to ensure that all animals would be treated kindly and with respect.

By: Natalie Leiter

A Shared Spirit

The mustang appeared undeniably fierce. His hooves pounded the earth, his mane crashed from side to side, and muscles rippled in the sun. His spirit was almost visibly emanating from his being.

A little girl played in the dirt by his feet. Her small fingers gently combed the ground, and as the mustang pranced in place, surveying the surroundings, her little shriek was filled with joy and wonder. Her fragile innocence seemed to summon the mustang’s grace and serenity, and his spirit and beauty enthralled her small mind.

The little girl rose, and the mustang followed his best friend home.

Gentle, proud, powerful: they were one.

By: Rachel Fisher

The Greedy Squirrel and the Nut

Yellow and orange leaves fell to the ground to be swept away by the whistling wind. Acorns fell to the ground to be swept away by squirrels.

A squirrel woke in the early morning to start his daily routine of gathering acorns. On his way back to his den he found a beautiful nut. The greedy squirrel squished it in his mouth that was already carrying two acorns.

He scurried along the dark, black ground. He hated this ground. It was scary…

Uh-oh.

The beautiful nut slipped out of his mouth.

He quickly scurried back for it and WHAM.

By: anon.

The Driver and the Squirrel

Yellow and orange leaves fell to the ground to be swept away by the whistling wind. Leaves flew, flipped, floated, and then finally landed on the freshly paved road.

There was a squirrel on the road.

The driver slowed as the squirrel crossed the road, its mouth swollen and puffy.

“What a greedy squirrel” thought the driver.

Once it passed, the driver sped up. He never liked to hurt any living creature…

Uh-oh.

The squirrel was running back into the road.

“What a stupid squirrel” thought the driver.

The driver tried his best to slow down in time but WHAM.

By: anon.

Rabbit’s Great Discovery

One afternoon, Rabbit decided to leave his hole. He had always heard stories about humans, but he had never seen one.

He hopped through a lush meadow, over a trickling stream, and stopped once the grass under his feet changed to asphalt.

Rabbit hopped through town for a bit, and then it happened: he stumbled upon a human. The human shook the rabbit’s hand and answered all of his questions about humans.

Rabbit was intrigued. He had never seen anything like this human before.

Everything Rabbit’s parents and friends told him was true: humans are as stupid as they say!

When in doubt, try it out!

By: LW

Brer Rabbit and the Tug of War

“Help me pull my cow out of the mud,” Rabbit said to Elephant.

“Glad to help!” Elephant replied.

“Pull when I give the command,” Rabbit said, tying a rope around Elephant.

Then Rabbit said the same to Whale. Whale agreed, and Rabbit tied the other end of the rope around Whale.

Then Rabbit hid in the bushes between them and shouted, “PULL!”

Elephant pulled.

Whale pulled.

They were both amazed at how hard it was to pull the cow from the mud!

Finally Elephant pulled Whale onto the land, and they realized Rabbit had tricked them.

Rabbit just laughed.

By: LKG

Tortoise Bowl-On-The-Back and the Fox

There once was a tortoise sowing seed when a fox stopped by, saying, “May God give you strength.”

Soon the seed was ready for reaping and the fox came by to say the same thing as before.

He came again at harvest time, but this time he came for his share.

The two began to fight, leading to a proposed race.

The tortoise had his brother hide in the threshing floor since he knew he couldn’t beat the fox. When the fox got to the barn, he realized he lost.

He had been tricked.

The greedy are put to shame.

By: Morgan Pask

The Golden Goose

Long ago in a village, a man possessed a very special goose. This goose laid the most beautiful golden eggs.

This man would grab the egg and off to market he went, getting rich off his golden-egg-laying goose.

However, she only laid one egg a day and the man grew impatient and greedy.

An idea sprouted in the man’s head that if he killed his goose he would have an unlimited quantity of golden eggs.

He slew his goose, but once he did, she was dead for good, and the man had no more golden eggs to sell.

The goose was slain by greed.

By: Keana Jones

Anansi the Farmer

Anansi was a skilled farmer, but also selfish and greedy. Not wanting to share the harvest with his family, he suggested they go home for three weeks as he had business before they could enjoy their harvest. They agreed, but Anansi lied; he stayed to build a hut and ate their harvest.

Anansi’s son returned to the farm to weed and found the food dwindling, so Anansi’s son set a trap.

Anansi was caught after getting stuck to his son’s trap.

In his shame he transformed into a spider and hid in dark corners so no one could see him.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

The Owl

A widow wanted her daughter to marry a good hunter, and she promised to do so. In time, a suitor asked for the daughter’s hand as he was a good hunter. However, the daughter noticed that her husband brought back scraps from his hunts.

One day she followed after him and was surprised to find him becoming an owl.

Angry and betrayed, the daughter returned home and then confronted him. She asked about his fishing, and he responded that an owl frightened the fish away.

“I think you’re the owl!” She kicked him out and he pined for her thereafter.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

The Three Kids

There once were three little kids: Hunter, Breezy, and MK. All three stayed in a constant state of worry because of the big bad wolf.

The kids decided that they needed to build a house to protect them from the big bad wolf. So, the kids went off into the local village to see what they could find to build a house.

Hunter came back with straw, MK had wood, and Breezy had bricks.

They built the biggest, strongest house they could.

They were ready to battle the big bad wolf.

They waited and waited, but the wolf never came…

Don’t be afraid to be brave!

By: LW

The Lion and the Woodcutter’s Daughter

A woodcutter and his daughter Mary went to the forest to get wood for Christmas. By sunset, Mary and her dad decided to go home with the wood they cut.

On their way back, a lion appeared in front of them and said to the woodcutter, “I have been observing you all day, and I fell in love with your daughter. In order to let you go home, please allow me to marry her.”

The woodcutter recalled the “Beauty and the Beast” story and allowed the lion to marry Mary.

The lion turned into a prince, and they lived happily-ever-after.

By: Lumingo Lubobo

The Cursed Prince

A prince refused to help an old woman crying for help. She cursed him, saying, “I transform you into a lion. Only true love can make you a prince again.”

The lion lived unhappily until one day in the forest he saw a woodcutter and his daughter cutting wood.

The lion stopped them and said, “I have been observing you and I want to marry you. I fell in love with you because you are a hard-working woman.”

The daughter fell in love with the lion’s courage and married him.

He became a prince once again, and they lived happily-ever-after.

By: Lumingo Lubobo

Halloween

Raven and Robin traveled house to house with their jack-o-lanterns filled with candy until they finally reached the house at the end of their street.

Raven didn’t want to go to the house because it was known to be haunted.

Robin called Raven a scaredy cat and walked up to the creepy, old house.

The door creaked open.

Raven called out to Robin, warning her not to walk in.

Robin ignored the warning. She heard a creepy, old voice.

For some reason, Robin did what idiots do in horror movies. She walked towards the voice.

Raven never saw Robin again.

By: anon.

Oktoberfest

My girlfriends and I decided to attend Oktoberfest, but I was terrified. There were ghosts, goblins, witches, and other scary costumes everywhere.

The first thing we did was enter a haunted house. My heart was beating fast and my hands were covered in sweat.

As we entered the haunted house, the first scene was a graveyard. Dead bodies and bones were scattered everywhere. Skeletons would reach out and touch all of us.

I started to scream.

My eyes were filled with fear.

Suddenly, a skeleton hand grabbed my leg and I fell. I could not get up.

I was trapped.

By: KPM

Got Ya

I dash through the lightless woods, begging my legs to move faster. Branches whip my face and grab my hair with such fervor it feels purposeful, almost like he’s commanding them to stop me.

Crack. The pain from my ankle registers before my brain understands, but then it hits me: I’m down. My scream fills the chilly air as moonlight bounces off the bone now exposed to the night sky. I close my eyes and count to three, willing my ankle to mend itself.

One… leaves are rustling behind me.

Two… I sense a presence above me.

Three…”Got ya.”

By: Rachel Goldin

Two-Sentence Horror

When my son laughed at the terrible dad joke I made, I knew I must have been dreaming.

After all, I had just suffocated him to make sure he kept quiet before the police came asking questions about my missing wife.

By: Erin Lockhart

Mr. Lanelle

Ivan was never an obedient child. Whatever his parents told him, he’d do the opposite.

His parents asked him to obey their command to not walk through the neighborhood alone. They warned Ivan of a man named Mr. Lanelle. Mr. Lanelle would walk around neighborhoods in search of misbehaving children. After he caught them, he would take them back to his house and have them for dinner.

Ivan didn’t listen to his parents’ stories, though. He continued to misbehave day after day, until one day he disappeared.

If he ran away or was eaten by Mr. Lanelle, no one knows.

By: LW

Mr. Miacca and Misbehaving Tommy

Tommy was not a good child. His sister was the definition of good, always pleasing her parents, but Tommy misbehaved. He would steal. He would bully the neighborhood kids. He would chase squirrels and rabbits.

“Mr. Miacca takes bad kids in the night to feast on them!” his parents warned.

One night, Tommy provoked Mr. Miacca by rounding up squirrels and rabbits and locking them up. His sister pleaded with him to stop, but Tommy scared her away.

The morning after, Tommy was gone. They never saw him again.

His sister was left with a toy rabbit on her windowsill.

By: Long Ngo

Monsters Under the Bed

As I lay my head on my pillow, I feel uneasy. There’s some sort of seeping feeling, as if I am going to be swallowed up by the ground at any moment.

I look around my childhood room, analyzing the old trophies and posters I used to adore. These four walls protected me from danger, as they provided me shelter from the monsters outside.

As I got older though, these monsters worked harder and harder to follow me in.

So as I lie looking around my childhood room, I feel the monsters have finally made their way under my bed.

By: Emma Kemp

Shade of Red

I understand the makeup artist doesn’t know what my personal preferences are, and I don’t mean to be obnoxious, but I can’t help my exasperation with the shade of red she’s chosen.

Although, I guess I should cut her some slack, given that it’s probably difficult to make lipstick look vibrant when you’re putting it on a corpse.

By: Rachel Goldin

Dollhouse

Flora moved the dolls throughout the dollhouse as if she were putting them in their places. Flora seldom played with the dolls. She only moved them from place to place, on schedule, every day.

She never seemed to even enjoy playing with the dolls; the furrow on her brow made it seem like this was work. This was a part of her daily duties: Flora moving the dolls. Some dolls disappeared; others appeared without her putting them there.

Some dolls moved out of the house, and new doll family sets would arrive.

A new family to control in the simulation.

One day you will be forgotten.

By: Mikayla Chandler

Greed

Greed, the red-eyed demon, tempts us to steal from others.

While my brother dies of thirst, I drown in the waters of a crystal clear lake.

By: Izzy Hua

Sloth

Her incurable indolence and satisfaction with adequacy prevented her from taking any active part in solving the crisis in her own home.

As the world burned around her, she sat back and watched.

By: Izzy Hua

Never Knew I Died

My life has been a series of disappointments; no one pays me any mind. I feel invisible — like I could walk through walls.

My parents treat me like a missing person, but I’ve been right in front of their eyes all along.

They cry for me every night, but I never left. They talk about me in the past tense. They aren’t happy on my birthday, and they never buy me any toys anymore.

They took all of my things and boxed them up and hid them in the attic.

It’s not fair: they treat me like a ghost.

By: Mikayla Chandler

Little Ghost Chronicles: The Lonely Little Ghost

The little ghost floated down the streets of Anoka, MN. He never enjoyed haunting… he thought it was mean and no fun.

Plus, the people of Anoka were never scared: it was the Halloween Capital of the World. Because of this, no ghosts ever wanted to stay. They always set out for towns with more anxious and frightful people.

This is why the Lonely Little Ghost stayed lonely. He’d never leave. He enjoyed it here and there was no pressure for him to haunt. Instead, he’d sit on the rickety steps of the house, waiting for someone else like him.

By: Keana Jones

Little Ghost Chronicles: The Un-Lonely Little Ghost

The little ghost had always been lonely. Every day he would sit on the porch of a small worn down house, waiting for anyone.

He watched the children pretend to be ghosts, laughing and running from each house. Although he would never want anything bad to happen to the kids, he had always dreamt of a new friend.

One day the strangest thing happened. A small boy with a sheet and cut-out eyes just like him ran out of a house, a car zooming towards him.

The ghost yelled, but the car passed through the sheet-covered boy.

A new friend.

By: Keana Jones

Little Ghost Chronicles: The New Little Ghost

The boy was cold, but he was covered by a thin white sheet.

Confused, he walked into the kitchen, his parents cooking breakfast and siblings fighting over newly acquired chocolates.

He assumed maybe he fell asleep in his costume, and decided to scare his younger sisters. He stalked over to them and hid behind the couch. He yelled, popping up from behind it, but… nothing.

They couldn’t see him.

Scared, he ran out of his house and into the street. There was a yell, and a car hit him, but he felt no impact.

Looking up, he saw another sheet.

By: Keana Jones

Little Ghost Chronicles: Two Ghosts

The Lonely Little Ghost floated towards the new boy, drifting over the pavement into the street to greet him with open arms.

“My name is Timo,” the little ghost said with his sheet covered arm outstretched.

The new ghost glided slowly towards the original ghost almost as if he were unsure of his surroundings.

“I’m Ryan. What happened to me..?”

Both of the ghosts drifted back over to Ryan’s house, Timo taking the lead to help Ryan process through the events leading up to this moment.

“Let’s go back to your bedroom.”

The two, holding hands, entered the house.

By: Keana Jones

Priest and Nun

One cold night, a priest and a nun walked out of a bar. No one had seen them go in, nor did anyone know where they came from. No one saw where they sat, what they drank, or what they talked about to each other.

Was anyone waiting for them?

As a curious bystander walked past them, he was so shocked by what he saw that he dropped to his knees, foam coming out of his mouth.

The priest and the nun were both faceless.

No eyes, no nose, no mouth, nothing.

Who were they?

Were they ghosts? Or… demons?

By: SK

The Story of the Wolf-Bride

Once there was a father who had a son, and one day a prophet prophesied the son would be torn apart by wolves.

The father built an underground chamber where his son could live.

As he grew older, it was time for him to marry, so the son married the father’s brother’s daughter.

In the chamber, the girl turned into a wolf and tore him to pieces.

When daylight came, the women found the dead bridegroom and the girl. The girl told them what happened, frightening the women.

The women then took the boy and buried him far far away.

By: Morgan Pask

The Vampires of New Orleans

New Orleans was bombarded daily with sailors looking to access the Mississippi River.

Yet the city had a dark secret.

Vampires scoured the docks looking for blood. Only in the day could sailors make their shipments… while the vampires slept.

One night a crew brought forth a shipment of garlic and wooden stakes. As the first few sailors jumped onto land, the vampires pounced. However, the captain was cunning: with his knowledge of vampires, he quickly gathered the garlic and wooden stakes, the kryptonite of the vampires.

Slowly but surely, the crew battled the vampires until they were no more.

By: NR

Making a Tupilak

Nukúnguasik ventured in his kayak towards an island he had never visited before. It was here that he came upon one of his brothers. All Nukúnguasik heard was his brother chanting for the thing to bite him. He knew then that his brother was making a Tupilak.

Nukúnguasik made his presence known, and his brother died out of fright.

When Nukúnguasik returned home, Nukúnguasik’s brothers worried for their other brother and went to search for him.

They found him dead, with the Tupilak eating his body.

This is why you don’t meddle with such things.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

The Story of Papik

It wasn’t Papik’s intention to kill his brother-in-law, Ailaq, but he did so out of jealousy for Ailaq’s hunting prowess.

Papik’s mother-in-law accused him of the crime. “I’ll eat you alive,” she said, and made ready to die and avenge her son as a ghost.

Papik didn’t hunt for a while out of fear, but eventually returned to the ice. A fog came over the ice, and the creature inhabiting the fog came after Papik. The hunters ran, alerting the villagers. When at last they came, they found Papik torn apart.

This is why you don’t kill without good cause.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

The House on Red Street

Billy and George were told to never enter the house on Red Street. The house was said to be haunted by ghosts and goblins, but Billy and George never believed the stories.

One day, Billy looked at George and said, “Man, let’s go check out that house on Red Street.”

George, hopping on his bicycle, replied, “Thought you’d never ask!”

So the boys rode their bikes to the house on Red Street. As they approached the house, fear began to set in.

Billy, looking at George, said, “Yeah, let’s just go get ice cream instead.”

The boys rode off laughing.

Moral: Laughing is better than crying.

By: LW

Tracked

I’m starting to see more and more lights. Everywhere. Short, tall, warm, cool, even the ones with gimmicks and adjustable brightness.

Day and night they haunt me in the sidelines, lingering in my peripheral vision. How long will it take for the godforsaken lights to go away?

They taunt me.

Do you wish to make me doubt myself?

It is futile; I am not so weak. I am resolute, despite your fruitless efforts to spite me. They blind my vision and my mind with useless thoughts.

I turn to my LED desk lamp. “I should have never bought you online.”

By: SV

Nightmare in Wonderland

I’m falling. When will it stop?

BAM. I land. At least it was in this pile of… human bones?!

What is happening?

I was taking a walk when this large wolf suddenly dragged me into this hole.

AROOO. I hear the wolf howl in the distance. I start to run away.

Now, I stumble upon a large snake.

HISSS. I run away.

Now, there is a tiger baring its large teeth in front of me.

ROARRR. I run away.

Now, there is a creepy old man in a hat. He reaches his hand towards me.

Oh, this is a nightmare.

By: anon.

Mourn

The burning liquor went down Jack Copper’s throat hard and fast like how the bullets from the gun went through Tommy’s skull.

The shot glass slammed against the chipped and aged red wooden bar. His hand traveled around his face, past his scruff, and halted at his forehead.

Opening his eyes, Jack noticed the smudge of drying blood along the side of his left hand. Several crimson droplets were spattered along his blue sleeve and trailed down his forearm. Jack pulled the sleeve forward, but his fingers were marked black from the gunpowder.

Why couldn’t Tommy stay out of it?

By: anon.

Death

Jay felt like he was being followed. It was late at night and his car had broken down. He decided to walk home since he was only a couple blocks away.

He started to speed up and noticed the sound of footsteps speeding up behind him. He quickly turned around and was shocked to see no one there.

He suddenly felt a great slam against his body. He felt like he was being pinned down by an invisible man.

“Who are you?” Jay asked.

“Death,” replied a hoarse voice.

Jay felt a sting on his throat. He struggled to breathe.

By: anon.

White Horse of Pestilence

The woods were not at all quiet tonight. A local villager, Eren, heard a disturbance.

She looked to the sky, and she could tell that they were going to be in for a long night.

She looked out to the distance and saw it. She saw the shimmering white mane of the horse, and her heart froze. She knew the irony that the white horse brought. Though the horse bore a smile demure, its rider was all too impure.

Eren, like the others in the village, knew the rider only by his attribute: Pestilence. She grabbed her own horse and rode into town, preparing them all for the grim evening they were about to face.

The smell of rotting flesh pierc’d the night sky.
‘Twas simply all she could do not to cry.

By: Chris McLaughlin

Red Horse of War

As Eren rode into town, an eerie red light enveloped the village. The blood-red sky cloaked the innocent villagers, but that wasn’t the only effect she saw. People were irrationally angry with each other, screaming over things that seemed objectively minute.

As Eren rode in closer, she noticed that the militia had been assembled. She asked the captain why the group was assembled.

“We’re sick and tired of the village over stealing all of our food! We’re going to march there and demand that they give it back!” he yelled in a rather uncouth manner. It seemed as though this night was far from over. War was here.

Blood red light shone ever bright and true.
It was then that she knew just what to do.

By: Chris McLaughlin

Black Horse of Famine

Sudden pangs of hunger struck Eren deep in her stomach. She glanced up to see a pitch-black darkness engulfing the blood-red sky, and she heard troubled howls coming from the village.

Then she discovered her cupboards were bare. “But I just ran to the market yesterday,” she muttered.

Famine himself descended upon the town. On his mighty black steed, he carried sacks of food which he hoarded for himself. His deep and sonorous laugh echoed throughout the night. “I see that my brothers have already visited this wretched village. Very well,” he said with a deep rumble, his belly vibrating.

Though a darkness and hunger plagued the night,
She fought on, while there was no end in sight.

By: Chris McLaughlin

Pale Horse of Death

Eren dismounted.

A bony army reached up out from the ground to grab her; she sliced at the arm with her dagger.

Something spooked her horse; it fled.

Death and his pale green horse stood before her. “You’re the last one, Eren.”

He placed his index and middle fingers on her forehead and ripped through her bones, brain, tissue.

Her dreams, memories, achievements… gone.

As the ground swallowed her body, her soul swirled around her heart, which Death held in his hand. He cackled, shoving her soul into a flask. “Oh GOODY, dessert! She’ll be awfully SWEET!”

Eren was gone.

Death came, licking his lips of lurid blue.
Earth reclaimed the town, its rest long o’erdue.

By: Chris McLaughlin

The Princess and the Pea

There was a kind prince who wished for love. He searched, but he could not find a lady he liked.

One night, he met a beautiful lady in a dream. Her skin was so soft. She could even feel a little pea under the thick mattress when they slept… Suddenly, the prince woke up.

As time went on, the face of the dream lady blurred in his mind.

A knock at the door.

He opened the door.

A maid looking for work stood before the door, and he saw a shallow welt shaped just like a pea on her neck.

By: Taiwei Chang

The Lonely Shepherd

A lonely shepherd played the flute when a beautiful woman appeared. They fell in love and married.

Together, they had two sons, and he discovered they were peris. If he were unfaithful or told their secret, she vowed he’d never see them again.

One day, the shepherd left for his former home, but the peri followed him and waited for him to tell her secret. Several days passed and he revealed nothing of the peris.

On his last day at home, he told his first wife the truth.

Upset, the peri declared their relationship over and vanished with their children.

By: anon.

The Peri Wife

Three years had passed since the heartbroken peri wife took her two sons and left her dear husband. She remembered her vow but regretted leaving her love.

Every day, she observed her shepherd play a sad tune on his flute and wait for her.

Stubborn and jealous by peri nature, her time separated from him allowed her to make peace with his betrayal. It had been for the safety of his first children.

Watching her sons grow made her see he had been right.

So, when her shepherd came to the spot they met, she stood there with open arms.

By: anon.

Sabzperi, The Emerald Peri

Sabzperi was a dancing peri in the court of Indra, King of the Gods.

She fell in love with Prince Gulfam, a human, and brought him to heaven, keeping their love secret from Indra.

Gulfam was jealous of the time she spent dancing in Indra’s court.

“No human may go there!’ she said, but Gulfam insisted.

She took him to court, hiding him in her wings. But Indra saw Gulfam and hurled him down from heaven.

Then he had Sabzperi’s wings torn off until she forgot about her love for Gulfam; only then would she be welcome again in heaven.

By: LKG

Rufio

King — they call him. Rufio learns to whisper, “Pan.” Then — “Peter.” But being the right-hand man of Neverland’s leader makes Rufio privy to Peter’s uglier parts. And he wonders if now that he’s older, leaner, no longer a boy — will his king tire of him? Peter promises adventure. Their days together burst effervescent, without responsibility, their skin tingling with pixie dust, but it comes at the price of a shorter life. Because Pan doesn’t tolerate adulthood. He doesn’t accept his Lost Boys growing up.

But it’s a fair trade, isn’t it?

Rufio expected to die young anyway.

By: Harana

The Hill Giant

Once a hill giant offered to help build a fortress for the gods, requesting the sun, moon, and Freya as wife. The gods agreed if he and his horse, Svadilfari, finished before summer started.

The giant began working, letting Svadilfari do most of the work.

The deadline was arriving and the gods were fearful he would succeed. Loki disguised himself as a mare and seduced Svadilfari, rendering the hill giant unable to meet the deadline.

The gods got a fortress … and an eight-legged foal, Sleipnir, for free: Loki had gotten impregnated by Svadilfari.

Sleipnir later became Odin’s steed.

By: Addison Franca

Freya’s Necklace

Freya, a concubine of Odin, discovered four dwarves crafting a beautiful necklace. She wanted it, and the dwarves said she could have it if she slept with ALL of them.

She did what a jewelry-loving goddess had to do.

Loki saw this and, disguising himself as a flea, he stole the necklace from sleeping Freya, giving it to Odin.

Freya told Odin about the theft but he said he knew all about her affair, and he would give it back if she started a never-ending war between two kings: every time a king died he would rise again.

Freya agreed.

By: Addison Franca

Yamato’s Sacred Sword

Having lost his sacred sword, Yamato beseeched Kwannon to help him find the sword. The Goddess of Mercy told him a deer had his sword.

Yamato began to search, but realized he had no weapon. He asked the Goddess again, and she gave him a lance. He asked for hounds to help, and she gave him her wolves.

They chased after the deer until the wolves could no longer follow. The deer plunged into a lake, and, seeing the sword on its great antlers, Yamato threw his lance. It plunged into the deer’s heart, and Yamato retrieved his sacred sword.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

A Knight’s Take on King Arthur

Today is the day of the tournament. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to be crowned king — after all, everybody knows I’m the best knight we have. I get that nobody was able to pull the sword from the stone, so they’re making us do this, but I bet I could have if I tried.

In walks Arthur, wait — did I just see him with the sword from the stone? There’s no way! Someone must have pulled it for him. If I, a noble knight, can’t pull it, there’s no way that lowlife did. I won’t accept it.

The Moral of the Story:
That loser just got the sword.

By: Sidney May

A Short Odyssey

Austin was initially taken aback by Polyphemus. He had never seen a cyclops before until he and his men had been shipwrecked on this god-forsaken island.

The cyclops had already eaten six of Austin’s best men. He knew that if he was complacent any longer, they would all be goners.

Summoning his remaining courage, Austin called out to Polyphemus as he rolled back the stone to come into the cave for the day. “Hey man, would you wanna have a guitar battle sometime?”

As the cyclops turned to Austin, Austin’s men gouged its eye out with a cyclops-sized guitar.

By: Christian Trent

Creation Myth: When God Spoke

The waters were calm when God first spoke.

Suddenly light, air, and earth leapt into existence.

Not finished yet, God created the first man and woman — Adam and Eve.

The couple was very happy together in the garden God made for them until one day when Eve was tempted by the forbidden fruit. It was the only rule God had given the couple: don’t eat from the tree.

But Eve couldn’t help herself, and Adam ate too.

They could no longer live in the garden and were cast out of paradise.

However, God hadn’t given up on them yet.

By: Rachel Averitt

The Fall

The serpent appeared to Eve in the garden.

Eve told the serpent, “I must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden for it would kill me.”

The serpent tempted Eve by telling her, “You will not die from eating this delicious fruit.”

Overcome with temptation, Eve ate from the tree.

She gave to Adam too and their eyes were opened to their sin. They became ashamed of their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves.

God called out to them, but the couple would not confess their sins.

The Lord cursed Adam and Eve.

By: Morgan Pask

The Sunrise and the Serpent

Adam and Eve awoke to a blazing sun.

Thinking God was the sun sending a plague onto them, Adam became afraid.

Then Adam and Eve left the cave to search for the garden. In the garden, they found the serpent who tempted them before. The serpent was the meanest creature on earth; its venom was a curse from God.

It ran after Eve, and Adam went to stop it. The serpent pinned them to the ground, but God sent his angel to save them. God struck the serpent dumb and the wind carried it away to the seashore of India.

By: Morgan Pask

Creation Myth: Izanagi and Izanami

Izanagi and Izanami stretched their jeweled spear down from the heavens and stirred the calm ocean water.

Suddenly all the islands of Japan sprang into existence.

From the couple’s marriage were born every human being and kami.

The two were very happy together, until one day when Izanami perished giving birth. Distraught, her husband Izanagi followed her to the underworld to get her back. But since she had eaten the food from the underworld, she was forbidden to return.

Purifying himself before his return to heaven, Izanagi accidentally created three new kami by washing his face: Susanoo, Tsukoyomi, and Amaterasu.

By: Rachel Averitt

Why the Sun Rises Every Day

One day, the sun goddess Amaterasu was weaving at her loom when her stormy brother and enemy Susanoo burst in and killed one of her handmaidens.

Grieving, Amaterasu fled to a cave, and the sun disappeared.

In the darkness, the frightened inhabitants of the earth devised a plan. The Goddess of Laughter helped the humans by laughing and dancing outside the cave.

Within the shadowy cavern, Amaterasu stirred and peeked outside. The people held up a large mirror. When Amaterasu saw her reflection, she thought it was a rival! She exited the cave, and the sun’s been shining ever since.

By: Rachel Averitt

Why the Sun and Moon Got Divorced

One day, the Moon God went to dinner in the palace of the Sun Goddess, his wife.

At dinner, the Moon God was offended by the rude manner in which the food was served. Because he felt like his wife had been dishonored by being invited to such a lewd occasion, his anger boiled over. He killed the host of the dinner in cold blood.

Horrified, his wife banished him from the heavens.

He could not understand. But she could not even look at him, so he never saw her again.

This is why day and night are always separated.

By: Rachel Averitt

Always Apart

“Go to dinner in my place!” And so I did.

Let her be dishonored? I would not.

And so here I am — banished, cast out, exiled.

Is not the moon’s rightful place beside the sun?

Give me one more day there and I would be content to relive that day for all eternity.

By: Rachel Averitt

Trial of the Star

Lucifer was alone when Beelzebub touched down on the tallest mountain, the peak closest to Heaven. Morning Star’s head was tipped back with blood and longing smeared on his face as he gazed at his old home.

“I am here.“ Beelzebub touched Lucifer’s arm. Sword and shield. They stood side by side — heaven above them, earth beneath, and braced themselves for the oncoming swarm of angels pouring out from a wound in the sky. Their Lord’s wrath, fury, and righteous punishment for their betrayal and pride.

Again, voice raised as he drew his sword, Beezlebub said reassuringly, “I’m here.“

By: Harana

Chang’e and the Elixir of Life

In the time that there were ten suns in the sky, night did not exist. The earth suffered from the heat.

Lord Archer Yi shot down nine suns.

Xiwangmu rewarded him with an elixir of immortality.

Yi gave the elixir to his wife Chang’e for safekeeping.

Yi’s apprentice Fengmeng cornered Chang’e and tried to steal the elixir.

Chang’e drank it to keep it safe.

Fengmeng told Yi that Chang’e wanted immortality for herself.

Yi turned Chang’e into a three-legged toad.

Embarrassed, Chang’e flew to Yueliang to live.

Yi learned the truth and left sweets in the moonlight as an apology.

By: Eden Cook

The Jade Rabbit

The Jade Emperor disguised himself as a beggar.

Monkey offered the beggar fruit.

Otter offered fish.

Jackal offered a lizard and a stolen pot of milk-curds.

Rabbit only had grass to offer.

Knowing that grass could not offer sustenance to the beggar, Rabbit threw himself on the beggar’s fire so the beggar could eat Rabbit’s meat.

Rabbit did not burn in the fire.

The Jade Emperor was so moved by Rabbit’s sacrifice, he granted Rabbit immortality and sent him to live on Yueliang.

Now known as Jade Rabbit, he lives with Chang’e, pounding herbs to make the elixir of immortality.

By: Eden Cook

Tecciztecatl

The world needed a great light.

A god said, “One of us should throw himself into the fire to create a light in the sky.”

Tecciztecatl was chosen, but he was afraid.

Nanahuatzin was chosen second. He showed great bravery. He went through the fire and became the sun.

Ashamed, Tecciztecatl leapt into the fire and became a second sun.

“Tecciztecatl has no right to shine as brightly as Nanahuatzin!” cried the gods.

One picked up a rabbit and flung it at Tecciztecatl, knocking the brightness off him.

To this day, the imprint from the rabbit can still be seen.

By: Eden Cook

Fox in the Moon

Fox and Mole were friends. Mole dreamed of eating worms. Fox dreamed of visiting Phaxsi.

Fox had an idea to hook a rope on the end of the crescent moon.

Fox told Mole there were worms on Phaxsi.

They asked Bear to climb the tallest tree to hook the rope onto Phaxsi. Bear couldn’t reach.

They asked Llama to climb the highest mountain. Llama couldn’t reach.

They asked Condor to fly to Phaxsi. Condor tied the rope.

They climbed.

Mole fell and landed deep in the earth.

Fox climbed to Phaxsi.

Fox can still be seen when Phaxsi is bright.

By: Eden Cook

Man in the Moon

A dialogue between a man and a sage:

“Being a blacksmith is hot work. I want to be a stone on the cool mountain.”

“Go be a stone.”

“OUCH! I’m being cut on! I want to be a stonecutter.”

“Be a stonecutter.”

“I’m sore! I want to be the sun.”

“Be the sun.”

“This is hotter than anything I was before. I want to be the moon.”

“Be the moon.”

“This is the hottest ever! The sun always shines on me. I want to be a blacksmith again.”

“Nope.”

And the man lives high in the heavens to this day.

By: Eden Cook

Fox and Raven Save Moon

Bear had stolen Moon!

Fox and Raven needed moonlight to hunt.

They went to visit Bear.

The three settled in for a visit.

Raven told stories. His stories went on and on; his voice got quieter and quieter; his voice began to drone.

ZZZZ. Bear fell asleep.

The friends searched for Moon.

Moon heard the friends and began to glow.

Fox grabbed Moon and hurled him toward the sky.

Bear awoke. “Come back! I don’t want you to shine!” yelled Bear.

“Fly away! Send us your light!” yelled Fox.

That is why some nights the moon shines; others, it hides.

By: Eden Cook

Rona-whakamau-tai, Guardian of Tides

Rona and her husband fought so much that Marama recognized their voices.

One night, as her husband slept, Rona left to fill water pitchers. A cloud blocked Marama’s light. Rona tripped on the root of a tree, dropping the pitchers.

Rona screamed and cursed Marama.

Marama reached to the earth and grabbed Rona, pitchers, and tree.

Rona railed against Marama.

Marama treated her with only kindness.

Rona calmed and they became friends. They fell in love.

Marama gave Rona a magic cloak.

Rona became controller of the tides.

When the moon is full, you can see Rona wearing her cape.

By: Eden Cook

Mahina

Hina was the best weaver in all of Hawaii. Her cloth was the softest kapa cloth made from the banyan tree.

She loved her work, but her family was lazy and refused to help her.

Hina climbed a rainbow to find rest.

She went to the sun. It was too hot.

She waited for night and climbed a rainbow to the moon.

She found rest and made her home there. She learned the dark regions of the moon are forests of banyan trees.

Now, she makes fine clothing for the gods.

The moon is called Mahina in her honor.

By: Eden Cook

Yhi and Bahloo

Yhi fell in love with Bahloo and approached him to establish a courtship. Bahloo refused.

Yhi pursued Bahloo. Bahloo ran and hid.

No matter where Bahloo hid, Yhi always found him.

Yhi called to the Spirits that lift up the Sky to catch hold of Bahloo so he couldn’t escape.

The Spirits didn’t comply, so Yhi cast them down. The Sky fell and covered the world in darkness.

The ancestors sent Clever Man to fight Yhi.

Now when Yhi tries to cast the Spirits from the Sky, Clever Man binds her in an eclipse so the Spirits can get away.

By: Eden Cook

Tears from the Moon

There was a boy; no one cared for him. Sadness built in him without relief. No tears existed on earth.

Alqamar spied the boy from the sky and came to his side. “Dear boy, I have brought you tears to ease your sadness. Let these tears fall on me, and you’ll be blessed when I take them into the sky.”

The boy sobbed on Alqamar.

When Alqamar returned to the sky, the villagers began to cry. Their relief turned to love and appreciation for the boy.

During full moon nights, you can see two tears spilled from Alqamar’s left eye.

By: Eden Cook

Twilight

Once upon a time there was a girl and boy.

The girl was bright and happy, always smiling. She glowed radiantly. She was called Sun.

The boy was quiet and calm. His company was always peaceful. He was called Moon.

Sun and Moon were friends for as long as they remembered.

One day, when Sun and Moon were playing, Sun fell and became injured. Even though Sun’s recovery was fast and painless, everybody remained worried. Sun was forbidden to play with Moon again.

Although the two never meet, they always follow each other to make sure their friend is okay.

By: Izzy Hua

Onwa

The people worshiped the silvery light that came from Onwa’s round, meaty body. Onwa would come down from the sky to visit the village; one woman was her favorite companion.

The woman lived alone at the edge of a village. Her meals were wild roots and berries.

A drought came, and all the wild vegetation shriveled.

Onwa offered bits of her rich meat to the woman. Onwa’s light faded as she fed the woman.

The villagers demanded the woman leave Onwa alone.

The woman disappeared, and now Onwa remains in the sky, waxing and waning in memory of her friend.

By: Eden Cook

Starstruck

Valentina. She had a name that hinted lover — with her Cupid’s arrow smile, a beauty that demanded hearts set at her altar. But she was a goddess of war, abandoning her offerings to neglect, to rot unattended in her disregard.

But like this, in layers of tulle and the warm pulse of too much wine, staining her lips, saturating her blood, the goddess’s armor was loose and liberated.

And Orion slipped into the cracks.

By: Harana

Pleiades and Pine

Seven boys constantly played a game of rolling stones instead of working in the cornfield like their mothers wanted. So one day the mothers gave them stones for dinner instead of corn, which angered the boys greatly.

The boys went to the townhouse and danced until they started to ascend to the sky. Fearing something was wrong, the mothers ran to them, but it was too late. They became the Pleiades.

Only one boy was caught, but he fell through the ground after landing on it hard. His mother cried over the spot until it grew into a pine tree.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

Drummer Man and Talking Drum

Look to the sky.

The light of our ancestors shines down upon us, illuminating Drummer Man and his partner, Talking Drum.

Our ancestors wait for us on the moon, entertained by the songs and stories of Drummer Man and Talking Drum.

When the moon is full, look for the spirit of Dummer Man and thank him for watching over our ancestors.

Then, lay your head on your pillow and listen to the quiet night: ba-DUM ba-DUM ba-DUM.

You can hear the drumming of Drummer Man and Talking Drum as they play for our ancestors.

By: Eden Cook

The Blue Jackal

There was once a jackal who fell into a vat of blue indigo dye. The other animals were amazed when they saw the blue jackal!

“The gods have sent me to be your ruler,” the blue jackal explained. He made the lion his prime minister, the tiger was the royal treasurer, and the elephant was his doorkeeper.

One day, though, the blue jackal heard other jackals howling in the distance. He could not resist; he began howling too.

“He’s just an ordinary jackal!” shouted the other animals.

So the lion and the tiger attacked their former king and killed him.

Blue jackals still howl like jackals.

By: LKG

Hanuman’s Jump

“Maybe I can do it,” Hanuman thought to himself as he heard Jambavan speak of him in such a great manner. “I will go to Lanka and there I could discover Sita, or bring Ravana back to pay for all the wrong he has done.”

Hanuman sent a prayer to the gods that they would guide his journey and send winds to carry him to Lanka.

He gathered all his might and bent his legs down in a stance ready to take the greatest leap of his life.

He felt a warmth circulating through his veins, and then … he jumped.

By: Emily Martinez

The Life of a God

Hanuman jumped for the fruit in the sky.
Now he was on this Earth as a monkey,
But served as Rama’s devotee,
Jumping across oceans and fighting Ravana.
His job was almost done,
But what would he do now?
Everyone thought about the mighty Rama,
But what about his mighty servant?
He begged Rama not to give him immortality,
But Rama insisted anyways,
And now Hanuman would live forever.
As the days went on, he grew tired of his life,
But he must serve and protect till the end.
That is Hanuman: he lived through the end of the world.

He who jumped will not die.

By: Philip Crowley

Rama Rewards Hanuman

As Rama took the throne, he could not forget Hanuman. The monkey deity had saved his brother and wife, and aided in the war effort.

For all he’d done, Rama must surely reward Hanuman.

He remembered the mountain that Hanuman had seized to bring the medicine plant back to his slain soldiers and brother. Rama decided Hanuman would become the king of the Himalayas so that he might protect him from future Rakshasas and watch over the medicine plant.

Upon hearing the news, Hanuman flew to begin his kingdom.

Time went on until one day Hanuman met his brother Bhima…

By: NR

The Illusion of the World

The world’s maya is like a magician’s magic. The magician is real; the magic is not. The illusion lasts for only a moment.

Shiva was sitting atop Mount Kailash with his bull Nandi. Suddenly, a loud shout reverberated through the air and the earth shook.

“What was that?” asked Nandi.

“Ravana is born,” replied Shiva.

A few minutes later there was more shouting and the earth quaked.

“What was that?” asked Nandi again.

“Ravana is dead,” replied Shiva, smiling.

Birth and death are like bubbles in water; the water is real, but the bubbles arising from the water appear and disappear.

By: LKG

The Monk’s Rock

After his brother’s death, King Rama went to the river every day and wept.

A monk also came to the river every day. Rama saw the monk fill his watering can and then pour the water over a large rock. The monk did this day after day.

“That rock isn’t a plant,” Rama told him. “It can’t grow or produce fruit. So why do you water the rock?”

“And why do you shed tears for your brother?” replied the monk.

Rama then understood that his weeping served no more purpose than watering a rock, and he set his grief aside.

By: LKG

Chitra Meets Arjuna

Chitra hated how her father tried to pawn her off on every man who came to their palace. The king was desperate for an heir.

The young man standing before them now bowed politely and looked away.

“Suits me fine,” thought Chitra.

Arjuna said, “Princess Chitra is more beautiful than I imagined; I would not take such a jewel away from you. But this morning I saw a lady dressed like a man. She was riding through the forest carrying a bow. I could not forget the image. Who was she?”

Chitra looked up at these words, seeing him anew.

A Thought:
Men are only for having children.

By: anon.

A Different Kamsa

Kamsa, the widely hated king, woke from his slumber to a voice calling him from the sky. It was a voice he didn’t recognize, but he could tell it was holy.

“Devaki’s eighth son brings your demise. Tread lightly.”

The son was Krishna.

Kamsa commanded his army to imprison his cousin Devaki, monitoring each birth. He slept in fear knowing a baby would dethrone him.

He was so worried that he fled and resigned as king; he didn’t want to bring pain upon his cousin by killing her child.

He was a misunderstood king, one who had compassion for others.

By: Saad Khan

Indian Demigods meet Percy Jackson

Percy staggered through the forest until he came upon an unfamiliar sight. Appearing before him was a camp almost exactly like Camp Half-Blood.

As he entered the gates, he was met by many demigods. They introduced themselves as sons and daughters of Hindu gods, saying how excited they were to meet Poseidon’s son.

Soon the headmaster of the camp, Guru Venkaswami, approached Percy. He had asked Percy to come to the camp, so that he could join forces in their fight against the fearsome Rakshasas.

Together Percy and Rahul, son of Indra, would attempt to defeat the evil demon.

By: NR