Creative Writing

Once Can Still be Memorable

I was the Mother’s Day gift my dad teased my mom she wouldn’t get.
May 8th—I was early to make her a mom.
Michele with “one L”—
have never been able to find my name spelled right on a pencil, sticker, or a pen.
I still look though.

Once I protected my sister and 2 friends from a Doberman pincher. A deep man’s voice yelled from my throat—who was that brave 11-year old, anyway?

Once I jumped off a cliff, my buddies shot off fireworks and sparks ignited. A federal offense to start a fire in a national forest, I knew.
I rolled, tumbled, cut and bleeding, stomped out the fire in my Hirachi sandles. Fined $500 after we called the fire department. Jeff wouldn’t let us pay for it. I respected him for that.

Once I raced down this 200-ft. steep road in my neighborhood—racing to beat the neighbor boys. My dad and I built this rocket to be fast with huge tires and an old kitchen chair for a seat. I won and loved being first.

I’ve loved many times, dreaming of weddings, but feel my groom of 11 years is my luckiest dream come true.

I’ve made chore charts, grounded teenagers Becca and Eric, for messy rooms, soon realizing I better clean my own if the rule was to work. I soon changed the rule. Teenagers not my own, but their mom I am—ten years later.

Laugh so hard, so often. I can’t wait for the next funny moment. Once I spit red Kool-aid all over my birthday guests because I was laughing so hard.

Grace is not my middle name as once I dropped a peach margarita down a woman’s back, tripped and threw a whole tray of food across the restaurant; what an artistic display guacamole and enchilada makes.

Twice I’ve been a mom, but I only see the smile from one child.

Once in class, had a student get a rubberband stuck on his head, shades of purple, red, and white pulsed across his face. I’ve never seen a rubberband fly across the room quite like that one.

Once I had a student hide in a cupboard trying to scare me…the cabinet locked and I laughed so hard while we screamed and laughed from inside.

Once I had a senior…a senior! get stuck behind a pole in my class. Pushing one way while another student pulled, we did get him out. I wondered what I would say if we didn’t.

Once I had a student scream in pain from the back of the room. Looking up I saw a stapler hanging from his ear. Trying to wrestle a stapler—yanking it off his ear, is what he did, not me. 10 seconds later, another boy turned green, truly, and I ran out the door with him to find a trash can. Coming back, another student was heaving in the aisle and I realized my classroom was an infirmary and I was done teaching that day.

When we lost Chloe, students sent cards—truly hundreds—wishing me and my family well wishes. Jeremy and I would sit on the couch laughing and crying at their messages. I would not have survived without them. Teenagers bleed and cry right along with us, despite what the news proclaims about them.

Daily I am thankful for my profession.

Daily I am exhausted by students’ energy.

Daily I try to walk my dogs Tucker and Wyatt and feel their love through their sad and sweet eyes. (I must have been a dog as I often use silly voices to tell others what they have to say.)

Sisters so close, we finish each others’ sentences and a mom that dresses just like me.
A dad that will do anything for his daughters and has become Jeremy’s mentor.

A mother’s day gift I was. Wanting to be a mother again, someday; my life began as a gift and teaches me that life will always be a surprise...

Ok guys...mine's up. It's your turn!

The Straw in My Juice Box

Three years old—
Innocent blue eyes,
Pink bow in my hair—
Pink shoes on my feet.

Rain drips from the sky,
Pattering on the roof of my house.
Like an army of soldiers
Marching in time.

Toddling around the house,
Longing to go outside
Dirt turns to mud,
The sewers flood with water.
It’s a very dreary day.

Nothing to do,
Just sitting around waiting
My sheepskin blanket,
Wrapped around me tight.

Remote control in my hands
My control, my power.
The T.V. flashes on before my eyes—
Elmo, Barney, Arthur, and Sesame Street.
Big Bird, with his enormous yellow feathers.
My restless mind flips through the channels.

After a half hour of channel surfing
I’m exhausted, I’ve had quite the workout.
Mommy approaches me,
Cheese and crackers in hand.
A foily pouch of Capri Sun accompanies it.

The cellophane around the straw
Held stronger than a spider’s web
I pound it, I slam it,
Determined to unwrap it.

Mommy snatches the juice box from me.
With my three year-old attitude I snarl—
“I Can Do It By Myself”
But there she was,
She unwraps the cellophane,
Gliding the straw
Into that pouch of sugar.
The sugar quenches my thirst,
Then I lie back down.
For another round of Sesame Street.

Thirteen years later
Six AM.
My sheepskin blanket,
Left abandoned on my bed.
Wishing I could cling to it,
But knowing I can’t.
Rushing off to school.
Pink cell phone, pink keys.
No time for Sesame Street,
No time for sitting and relaxing.
My blue eyes
Visible only by the toothpicks
Propping open my lids.

Rushing around, searching for a pair of flip flops,
Forgetting to notice the rain trickling on the windows.
Looking for my chemistry binder,
Where can it be?
Where’s my backpack?
Where’s that form I need to turn in—
I swear it’s yellow,
Just like every other form sent home.

Getting in the car,
Running fifteen minutes late.
I swear I’ll be on time today,
But of course, that’s what I said yesterday,
And the day before that,
And the day before that.
I say I’ll be happy tomorrow,
But what am I waiting for?
Lost in this insanity,
Just wishing I had time to play.
To listen to the rain,
To hear the marching band on my roof.
To sit around with my crackers,
Watching Big Bird on TV.




I pull out of the driveway,
I’m now in the driver’s seat of my life.
My remote control, replaced with a steering wheel.
My mom in the passenger seat,
Ready to guide.
I hear the rain on the roof.
I freeze.
I listen.

Once again, my mom hands me cheese and crackers
And my little juice box.
The headlights of cars flash before me,
Just like Elmo did long ago.
Watching the road intently,
Just like I used to watch the show.

I eat my cheese and crackers.
Then my mom snatches my juice box—again.
“I’m old enough now,”
“I can put the straw in my juice box.”
I retort.
But once again, she crushes off the cellophane,
Slides the straw right in,
And hands it back to me.

I’m Not Grown Up Yet
By Devin Eppers

I was born at St. Joe’s Hospital in Littleton, Colorado.
I didn’t need a label on my crib because I had the biggest big toe out of all the babies there, and my parents couldn’t miss me.
I was brought home to my dog Jesse, and my cat, Fred.
Fred had one eye and half a tail.
He would seem like the ugliest cat in the world.
He Wasn’t.
He was all black with white feet and a white neck.
We called him “the cat in the tuxedo.”
My first day of elementary school, I roller bladed with my friend who lived down the street.
My second grade teacher’s name was Miss Ramsey.
She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen in my entire life.
She had big brown eyes and bright red lipstick.
I basically had a crush on her the entire year.
After second grade, our family moved into a bigger house and I had to change schools.
I met all my best friends I have now at Franklin Elementary.
Memories like messengers from boys to girls, and back from girls to boys.
Playing soccer and calling ourselves the “Aussies”
Thinking we were big tough 5th graders, but then a summer later walking in the doors of Powell and thinking we weren’t so tough anymore.
Questions running through my head...
I have a different teacher for every subject?
What’s my locker combination?
When’s class start?
Will I really get shoved in a locker by giant
8th graders?
It wasn’t that bad.
8th grade was my most laid back year.
Teachers seemed like they didn’t care.
No one cared if you were late.
We owned the school.
Continuation was an emotional day.
8th grade left behind many memories.
I was now a freshman in high school.
My first day I walked in, IT WAS HUGE!
I tried to ignore all the evil stares of the seniors.
It took me a few weeks to get used to.
The 100 yard dash to Chipotle has given me many bumps and bruises.
Einstein’s is perfect for a breakfast bagel.
King’s is awesome if your running low on money, just whip out the Sooper Card.
Cookie’s by Design is gross, but I still eat there every day.
Now, I am in love with school.
So many new friends from Newton and Euclid.
I still can’t get over how Homecoming is literally 1,000,000,000 times better than all the Powell dances put together.
Miss Fine was my favorite teacher freshman year.
Mainly because she was probably only 10 years older than me.
The summer of my sophomore year was amazing.
I had a sick sixteen birthday party at the pool.
I also got my license and a car.
Scary I know.
People might say that, that baby with the big toe is all grown up now.
But that is not true.
I have plenty of life to live, and I know it will creep up on me very quickly.
Before I know it I’ll be graduating and going off to college.
Short after that I’ll be getting married and having kids hopefully. I’ll get a job and feed my family.
After that I’ll be at my 10 year high school reunion.
I hope to be successful and retire happily.
I want to live to see my grandchildren.
My parents tell me “You’re all grown up.”
But I’m not.
I’ll let them know when my life is complete.

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Oh the randomness of me...
By Lacey Benedict

I was the first child in the family,
My brother came next.
I was born with problems but that didn’t stop me.
I lived, as you can see.

My mom and dad loved me,
My grandma and aunt loved me.
When I was little, my cousin Andrew and I were best friends.
Almost inseparable.
But we grew up. Things changed.
He moved, I cried, we lost the bond we had.
But here I am, just like new.

Once, I wanted to break away from my family and just live my life;
Now I can’t imagine living without them.

I’ve loved more than one boy band member
And sung in the shower to many pop cd’s.
I’ve stayed up late watching movies with friends.
I’ve cheered my brother on at football games.
I’ve moved around a lot,
Going to one school after another.
I’ve made and lost friends more than once.

Twice I’ve been to California and I’m returning again this summer.
I’ve been to Canada and over to Europe.
I still remember the first time I saw dad cry.
I think people are more important than color.
And growing is only half of life.

Many hours of my childhood were spent playing hide and seek.
Jump rope and lip balm were once very cool.

Boys and gossip were all the rage then.
And yet, they still are.
I had a best friend once named Kacey,
But that didn’t really last.
I have a best friend now and she’s more than I could ever have asked for.
We’re not just friends; we’re sisters.

Concerts are a very enjoyable hobby of mine.
What would I do without them?
I hate to even think about it.
I’ve picked flowers for my mom,
I’ve baked cookies for my dad.
And I’ve certainly teased my little brother more than I should have.

I’ve played hockey with the neighbors,
And I’ve traveled over the ocean.
I’ve laughed and cried,
I’ve seen life and even death.
And I’ve seen sunrise and sunset.
I’ve lived life to the fullest,
Everything else is just a bonus.
Come spring I will graduate,
And so begins “the real world”
Am I ready for it?
Do you really think I can handle it?
I’m not sure, but I guess I’ll have to find out!
I mean, how bad could it be?