2  

   

   

About TXT

This is the first edition of the Friendly Hills Literary Magazine, TXT (pronounced “text”). It is a collection of submissions by students across all grades--writers who willingly shared their work beyond class assignments

or grades. While some of them worked with teachers to prepare their writing, the responsibility for final draft status was up to them, and I have

stayed true to the work as submitted without editing it.

This year the magazine is only available in a digital format, but who knows what the future holds?! This year I compiled and formatted the work with my limited online publishing skills, but maybe next year a team of students

could help to improve on this starter version. If you are a returning Friendly Hills student and you want to help grow the magazine for the

future, or have ideas about expanding it, email Mrs. Maas at Melissa.maas@isd197.org. Thanks for reading!

Melissa Maas

   

  3  

Table of Contents

Short Fiction Happily Ever After by Makda Mekonen…………………………………………………………………4 Chief Joseph by Katie Meyers………………………………………………………………………………..7 The Exclusive Diaries of the Evil Queen by Melissa Irwin……………………………………….8 Poetry Wind by Lillian Sprangers……………………………………………………………………………………..11 Tale of a Nameless Girl by Maya Villafuerte…………………………………………………………..12 You Are My Love by Vivian White………………………………………………………………………….13 The Ladder by Madyn DuPaul………………………………………………………………………………..14 Three poems by Katie Meyers…………………………………………………………………………………16 Secondhand Smoke by Sylvia Soukup…………………………………………………………………….17 Stress by anonymous……………………………………………………………………………………………..18 Drama Twisted Tales by Timmy Torinus and Ella Appelbaum…………………………………………….19

  4  

Happily Ever After

It was just another day at Happily Ever After High. As Red was looking at the clock, she couldn’t wait to get out of her “Sorcery of Villains” class. Just because my dad is the Big Bad Wolf doesn’t mean I have to be in this class, she thought to herself. She hadn’t told any of her friends at school this detail about her father. Ding! Ding! Ding!

The bell rang. Finally, lunch time. Red skipped down the steep, crooked stairs and then went to the “Castleteria” room. Her friend Goldy walked towards Red with a worried look on her face, “Red, something terrible has happened!” Goldy said. Her eyes looked shocked and frightened.

“What’s wrong?” Red asked worriedly. “Follow me,” Goldy said, dashing into the crowd of students. Red quickly followed

Goldy to the Happily Ever After library. As she entered, Red caught sight of her other friends.

“Snow, Beauty, Cinder, what are you guys doing here?” Red asked, confused. “Snow may have found something the Evil Queen is trying to do,” replied Goldy. Beauty added, “When I came from “Damsels in Distress” class, I saw the Evil Queen

talking to Rumplestiltskin about another world. Apparently, there is this other world where fairy tales are more read than done,” Snow went on, “So, the people there believe fairy tales and their characters aren’t real. We’re more of a myth of sort. The Evil Queen wants to take over both the fairy tale world and the other world.” Red grew even more shocked and confused.

“Okay, so what does all this have to do with us?” Red asked. “Well, I thought we could try to stop the Evil Queen,” Snow said like it was no big deal. “ARE YOU CRAZY?” Red yelled, forgetting that they were still in the library. “Shuushhh!” the Griffin librarian whispered harshly. “Oops! My bad. Hee hee,” Red said as her cheeks turned as red as her hoodie. “Well, shouldn’t we try?’ Snow asked. “Yes, we should,” said Beauty. Goldy and Cinder agreed. Red thought for a minute, “Yes,” Red said firmly. They all squealed and had a group

hug, but pulled apart when they saw the scowl from the Griffin librarian. The girls quickly left the library, and headed for the dorms. When she got to her dorm room, Snow said, “Okay, well the Evil Queen is leaving on Saturday, which is three days from now.”

Red couldn’t sleep that night. She kept tossing and turning, thinking about the Evil Queen and her master plan. She finally drifted off in the early hours of the morning. It

  5  

seemed as if she’d just closed her eyes for a second, when Red woke up to the sound of a blow dryer. “What the?” Red mumbled half asleep. “Finally, you’re awake, Sleepy Head!” Snow giggled at her. We need to get moving. The other girls are getting ready and we are heading on our adventure.” Once Red was dressed, the girls headed to Snow White’s stepmother’s castle, looking for a way to get to the other world. “I know the Evil Queen always keeps important things in her bedroom. There might be something there that could help us,” Snow said. They crept toward the bedroom and peeked inside. They noticed a desk drawer that was partially open. Bingo. Snow leafed through the drawer and stumbled upon a scroll.

The group stood there in silence until Beauty said, “Why don’t we open it?” “Okay,” Red replied as she picked up the scroll, “It says, you must tell a secret, not a

lie, to people who are close to you in your life.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Snow asked. “I know who can help,” said Cinder, “The Mad Hatter. He can solve any riddle.” The girls headed to the Mad Hatter’s house. “Hello, anyone there?” Snow asked as

she knocked on his front door. The door swung open on its own. “Aahh, Snow White. It’s such a delight ,” The Mad Hatter said, as he popped out of a

cupboard. “Hi, Mad Hatter. We found this scroll with a riddle and we were wondering if you could

help us solve it,” Beauty explained. “Well, what does the riddle say?” asked the Mad Hatter. Beauty handed him the scroll

and he read it, “Well, I think I can help you. Notice the symbol at the bottom. I have another scroll that contains that symbol,” he went to the kitchen and came out with another scroll, “This scroll reads… has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats, and never walks but always runs. What am I?” read the Mad Hatter.

“Another riddle?” Cinder complained. “Wait! I think I know this!” said Beauty, “It’s a river! A riverbed. a mouth of a river, and a

river has running water.” “Wow,” Cinder said stunned. “So,” said the Mad Hatter, “This means you all have to say a secret to the river. Then,

you won’t have to go to the other world at all. Just say the secrets and the portal will be closed. The Evil Queen’s plan will be stopped.”

“Woo-hoo! This is great!” They all yelled gratefully. They thanked the Mad Hatter and headed toward the river.

  6  

“Okay, it’s time to tell the river our secrets,” Beauty said. The girls gulped and looked around nervously.

“Well, the Big Bad Wolf is actually my father,” said Red with her head down. “Oh,” said the group. “I don’t want to follow my story and sleep for one hundred years,” said Beauty. “And I have a secret sister who is a swan. That’s why I have my own dorm room at

Happily Ever After High,” confessed Cinder. “And I am friends with The Three Bears,” said Goldy. The river began to shimmer and

sparkle. Then it became as hard as a rock. The portal had closed. The team continued to be friends as they grew up and the Evil Queen didn’t get to go

to the other world. Everything turned out so that they all lived happily ever after.

THE END                                                

  7  

Chief Joseph

By Katie Meyers

()()()()()(){}<~>{}()()()()()()()()()()()()(){}(<~>){}()()()()()()()()()()()()()(){}<~>{}()()()()()()

There are two Chiefs left, and I knew we could not fight. With my head down and my hope gone, I stumbled to the camp of the Blue Coats. Colonel Miles said words I could not understand, because I was thinking about the death and destruction that came from this terrible and ineffective war. I walked back to my horse and picked my rifle up, but General Howard reached out his good arm for it. “I am not surrendering to you,” I spat and pointed to Colonel Miles. “This is the man that ran me down.” I handed the Colonel the gun, butt first, and started to feel my mouth opening, starting to say the words that should, and must be said as exhaustion and hopelessness took hold. “I am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. The old men are all killed. He who lead the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. I want time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find.” And with this breath, I said the sad truth that I have prevented admitting. “Maybe I shall find them, among the dead.” I weakly raised my arm, shouting to the sky where too many of people of my tribe have gone, dead. “Hear me my Chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever,” and with the last bit of saddening strength I had, I drew my blanket over my head in defeat.

  8  

The Exclusive Diaries of the Evil Queen By Melissa Irwin

December,1.2015 Hello I am the Evil Queen you know the one that says mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all, that one of course you do. I am here at my trial to tell the world that it is ALL SNOW WHITE’S FAULT or you know whatever her name is. The truth is it’s not my fault she just set me up. All rise. Sorry have to go put SNOW WHITE in jail I will write later stay evil.  December,1.2015, continued So it seems that the trial didn't go as planned. The whole world thinks that I tried to kill my dear Snow White. They have it all wrong here I'll tell you the story. Once upon a time or that's what kids say these days right, right. Anyway It was a warm spring day it was also Snow White’s birthday so I decided to dress up a bit but my maid must of picked out the wrong outfit and makeup because I looked like an old witch. Yeah I know who knew that you could turn this beautiful face into a witch. But you know the queen has to have to the best. So I knew Snow White loved the jewel ruby so I got her a ruby necklace in the shape of an apple and I put it inside of an apple. As for being quite rude to her I needed her to get out of the castle so we could set up the surprise party and by we I mean my staff. I almost forgot to tell you she fell asleep. She was up so late partying Snow White that is that she had no energy to do anything. So I decided to let her little elf friends take care of her. Meanwhile I had not taken a bath since that morning and that I better pick my own cloths out. It is so hard to get good service these days am I right or am I right. Sorry that's the end of that story and let me tell you it lived happily ever after FOR SNOW WHITE.I have to go pick out my own cloths again. I really should fire that maid. I have to go stay evil.  

  9  

December,5.2015 So it seems that I've dug deeper then I thought. I am now in a jail cell on an island prison where the crimes are alphabetized from bad crimes to worse crimes in history. Can you guess what side I'm on. Bad crimes you say. INCORRECT. I am in the last cell at the worst crimes in history side. People are so dramatic these days. Hey Mr. Guard man you can't take my diary oh yes I can. But, but wait……  December,6.2015 Hi guess who it is well I am not going to tell you. You know why I would ruin my great and I mean great reputation. I will give you a hint I was on trial with the Queen. Or as you call her the Evil Queen, Wicked Witch and a bunch of other names I remember but I am not going to tell you. Oh look at the time I have already been up for an hour better go to bed, a shout out to the Evil Queen good luck getting you diary now you will be in prison for the next...I mean forever. Oh what does that witch say oh yeah stay evil like me. I think that's it anyway. December,7.2015 I am enjoying myself very much today the Evil Queen was put in prison earlier this morning and is gone forever. The best part is nobody expects that it was all staged. Have I mentioned how much I do not like the Evil Queen. My life dream was to put her in prison forever. The best present I got for my birthday was putting the the Queen in prison. I could have not done it without the help of me. January,1.2016 Sorry I haven't written in a while I have been on a vacation to supposeably to get my mind of the Evil Queen. I am really starting to feel bad about this whole thing. People are trying to talk to me and my new husband. As you probably know I don't like talking to people. But anyway I have decided to divorce my new husband and sue him for all he’s got. I will write later always be evil.

  10  

January,3.2016 My life is crashing straight toward the ground. How? I’ll tell you how people started to suspect how the Evil Queen did it and some people are actually calling her the Queen. The worse part is that all the evidence points straight at ME! HELP………. January,15.2016 I can't believe I finally got my diary back, not only that I am out of prison and Snow White is in! The king put his own wife in jail. Maybe in the future I will have another daughter that isn't so… RUDE. Bye and like I always say stay evil.                                          

  11  

Wind By Lillian Sprangers

"Oh to be the wind.

Flying without wings.

Bringing joy to creatures and people.

To go to many places in one day.

Making leaves and kites dance in the air and playing wind chimes

all day.

Touching clouds and tickling children's cheeks next.

Most of all I would be free.

Without boundaries, without being told no.

That's why I still say oh to be the wind"

  12  

The Tale of a Nameless Girl

By Maya Villafuerte

There once was a prodigy, her name long forgotten but her legacy remembered. This girl was exceptional, at many things but one talent stood out and made quite the

impression. Art.

It was one of her many talents. She had quite the reputation for her amazing work. Art contests were held in her honor, the competitors attempting to match her skill with no avail.

Her most famous piece featured a periscope bobbing above a stormy teal sea a person barely hanging on beneath the waves.

Many thought of this artwork was strange, seeing as the person beneath the waves wasn't a diver but just a random person.

It had been a statement that no one understood but the nameless artist could care less about what they thought.

The painting had a deep meaning to her and, to her, that was all that mattered. But back to the girl herself.

She had always had this habit of disappearing. Every once in awhile she would just disappear, she'd just leave the little town.

But no matter how many times she disappeared she always made her way back here. And that's why isn't shocked the townspeople when she didn't come back.

They, the townspeople, had waited for her return for months. She never came back.

And the worst part was that no one could go looking for her for not a single one of them knew her name.

So she remained gone. Never returning to the little town,

never to be seen again.

  13  

You are my love By Vivian White

 Roses  are  red  violets  are  blue,  if  I  lost  you  I  don’t  know  what  I  would  do  

If  I  am  a  flower  you  are  my  sunshine  our  love  will  grow  forever  

If  I  went  to  heaven  you  would  be  my  angle  

You  are  my  cherry  to  my  ice  cream  sundae  

you  are  my  spark  of  light  to  

my  dark  night  You  are  like  the  first  snowflake,  when  you  land  on  

my  cheek  all  I  can  think  of  for  weeks  is  you  and  me  You  are  my  love  

when  someone  asks  me  who  you  are  I  say”  my  love”    

when  we  talk  I  sometimes  blush,  

I’m  in  no  rush  because  you  are  my  love  and  I  hope  that  never  changes  

I  love  you    

  14  

The Ladder

By Madyn DuPaul

You are a deadline I cannot meet

You are a sheet of music dropped at my feet, but I cannot read the notes

Although I still try

Eventually I'll just give up and cry

And you tell me I am overreacting

You say that I don't understand

But I remind you that pain is relative

And the arrow that can kill one may only harm another

It just depends on where you shoot

And I need to calm down

I need to relax

So I imagine a place

I imagine a path covered in snow

I'm walking down the path

But what don't I know

The trees may be strong but not everything is

What if this all falls apart

The trees split and the world unravels

Nothing is left but me and the silence

  15  

And I'm left to ponder my existence

I know nothing

I have no purpose

All I know is I need to keep breathing

But my breathing isn't steady

Although it never is

And I'm not ready to forgive and forget

I know I'm insignificant in the giant world

But what is significance if not just a label

And who are are doesn't matter

What you think doesn't change me

And you are just one rung on this ladder

The ladder of life, extending as years pass by

Each rung is a memory

Resting against a wall

But not every wall is indestructible

And not every person is strong

You are the earthquake that could send my wall toppling down

But my wall stands strong

And so do I

You can't break me

No matter how hard you try

  16  

Mystery Emerge from the shadows As silent as time As secretive as a fox A cat with lives of nine One day you will always Be out in the sun But for now Just stand back Or your lives Will be none

Cluelessness and confusion

Writing on paper Ask we later Where to go I don't know What to see Don't ask me

Writing my pet peeve Oh please just let me leave!

Writers Block Knock knock Writers block

Ding dong Am I right am I wrong

Ring ring Can't think of a thing

"Creak creak," says the door Writing is such a bore.

By Katherine Meyers

  17  

Second Hand Smoke By Sylvia Soukup I’m a beautiful tragedy, an early Monday morning a late Tuesday night. I’m an aching heart, the sour sweet smell of second hand smoke. I’m an unfinished story, a handful of scrambled letters. I’m a blurry photo, unfocused and unusable. Question: What Am I? Answer: Many things but ultimately nothing.

  18  

Stress By anonymous

Stress isn't a good thing

Especially for some people

The some people who just couldn't handle it all

Stress is harsh and mean and all it does is drag people to their

breaking point

It pushes you and let's you fall

It looms over you and criticizes your every move

It drags you to the edge of insanity and threatens to push you into it

Stress sends people over the edge, tossing them straight to insanity

  19  

Twisted Tales

by Timmy Torinus and Ella Appelbaum

SCENE 1: I’m Hungry

(Gretel walks on stage) GRETEL: Hansel! Father wants us to go find tonight’s dinner in the woods. HANSEL: Give me one second, I’m getting dressed! GRETEL: Well, if you don’t hurry up, I’m going by myself! (walks off into woods) (Hansel comes on stage) HANSEL: You know that it’s too dangerous at this hour! The witch's hut is just down the dell! HANSEL: Gretel?... (Hansel shrugs and walks off stage) (Bring on trees) (Gretel skips on) GRETEL: Well, I don’t know what Hansel was all scared of, this is just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. (Walks off stage) (Lights dim, take off trees)

  20  

SCENE 2: I Won’t Sell

(Lights on, Jack and mom walk onstage with cow) JACK: Mom, please don’t make me sell Milky! She’s my best friend! MOM: Jack, sweetie, she’s been dry as a bone for weeks. JACK: I won’t do it! MOM: You will do whatever I tell you, young man, unless you want to starve to death! Now go! (Sings about Milky)

(Mother’s Song) MOTHER:

Oh, Jack! (Clap) Don't play knick-knack (clap)

This cow is a pain in the back (clap) It's time for her to go to market

It's been months and she's been dry Now don't make your mother cry

JACK: Only people with hearts can cry

MOTHER: Oh Jack (clap)

JACK: We’re doing this again?

MOTHER: Don't be a sap (clap)

JACK: Is sap even a word?

MOTHER: THis cow has been taking week long naps (clap)

JACK: That’s impossible

MOTHER: Oh Jack (clap)

She really is just a piece of crap JACK: Mother, she can hear you

Oh Jack, Oh Jack, Oh Jack, Oh Ja-

Jack: Ok fine I'll go just stop singing!

  21  

Remember not to accept less than 5 pounds!

Ohhhhhhhh Jack

SCENE 3: The Escape

(Bring on tower, Rapunzel goes behind tower, lights on) RAPUNZEL: Maybe if I can just, you know, loop my hair around here, and then I can slide down. (Jumps down) RAPUNZEL: Ahhh, EEK!, that hurts!... Okay, we’re good. Oh, mother will not like this, I’m a terrible terrible person… But I feel so free!!! I should probably go back up… But this is the opportunity of a lifetime!!! I feel so Guilty… whatever. (Sings song)

(Rapunzel’s Song) I can run, I can play

I can sing a song I can fly away

I can do anything I want to today

Oh, Mother will be worried Gee, I better scurry

But It’s a beautiful day Why can’t I just stay

I’ve been so perfect

So maybe one day… Mother might maybe

Let me go out and play

I could swim in the lake I could swing from the trees

For once in my life I’d do whatever I please

Today is my day,

I just know it I just need a sign to show it I think it's time for a new me

  22  

( walks to one side, puts on a baseball hat and sweatshirt)

No it can't be (Put on inner tube and goggles)

IT’s just not me

(puts on punk outfit)

This is more like it I'm Rapunzel you’ll see….

Scene 4: Goldilocks

(Goldilocks comes on with tools, lights on) GOLDI: Trap, Check! Knife, Check!, Bait, Check! all good to go! Those bears will pay… the nightmares never left me, I probably shouldn’t have said that, pretend that I didn’t say that (Sings song about how the bears ruined her life)

(Goldilocks’ Song) Those bears are gonna pay

They put me through lots and lots of pain every day They chased me through the woods,

I never thought they could, Oh those bears are gonna pay.

They chased me all around,

As I wandered through the town I couldn’t make it a step without hearing a sound

Those bears, are gonna pay,

I’ve got traps and tools to put them on their way Those bears are gonna pay

They’re gonna wish they never scared me That one gloomy day

They’ll be crying’ for their mommy When I trap them in the honey Oh those bears are gonna pay!

(Walks off stage carrying tools in bag) (Lights off)

  23  

SCENE 5- RED

(Red walks on, lights on) RED: I don’t want to visit grandma, she always drones on and on about politics (In a mocking voice) Vote for Bernie, Trump sucks, Clinton’s gonna faint! Back in my day, all of the presidents weren't using social media for their campaign, it's sickening! MOTHER’S VOICE: Red! That is rude! Your grandma tries very hard to get you to like her… now get going, and remember, stay on the path the whole way there, the wolves are hunting tonight RED: Mom, that’s freaky! MOM: Bye, Red, Oh, and don’t eat all the sweets on your way there! (Red walks off) (Lights off, bring on trees) (Lights on) (Everyone else comes onstage at different times) (Everyone talks, “What are you doing here” etc.) (Witch drops down and zaps everyone) (Hansel walks on stage) HANSEL: Gretel, where are you? WITCH: Oh, there’s another one, so many people have ruined my life these days, it’s hard to keep track! (zaps him) (Sings song)

(Witch’s song) To H+G

Me and my sis

We were like this (Crosses fingers) Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Now you, came quiet as a mouse Baked her in the oven, and burned down the house

To her you were her only hope Starving to death

Just holding’ onto a rope So now you will burn down too

To Jack

To many this will come as a surprise But you made my husband's demise

Yes he was a giant

  24  

And you were so small But big threats don’t always have to be tall

So off with with your head, You will be dead

Oh yeah Oh yeah

To Rap

Now dear

I am very antagonized You promised

You’d sing Now I wear a disguise

I gave you a home I gave you my life

And this is how you repay me There will be a very big price

You cost me my beauty You did it in vain

Now just like the others I’ll never hear from you again

To Goldi

You were a wimp

Just a small little shrimp You fled from your dangers

But on the way You tramped through my garden

For that you will pay Bears are really nice, you shouldn't just go

But still you fled Why, I don’t know

While you were running To my dismay

You ripped up my flowers By the boquet

To Red

Now you were just walking

through the woods dear Wearing a bright hood

  25  

That you could see clear Then along came my pet He just wanted a snack

A plump little girl, who could top that The wolf followed you

To a nice house Then ate your granny,

hid in her blouse Then you came along

Called the woodcutter dear I’m sorry to say

He was not so sincere Now my wolf’s dead, and you will be too

I’m sorry to say, Your all singing’ the blues

(Zaps everyone into stories) WITCH: You have until the story ends to complete each other's tasks. If you fail you will be trapped in each other's story forever. Hahahahaha! (Characters come to life dazed) (Hansel walks across stage picks up rope from Jack) HANSEL: Give me back my cow!

(Jack walks up to Goldi) JACK: What are you doing with my tools, I need those for my revenge! (Jack grabs tools from Goldi) GRETEL: I should get back to the tower, mother will be angry RAPUNZEL: (Grabs Red’s basket) Not yours! These are for Granny! GOLDI: (To Red) Come on Gretel, we should go get the food now WITCH: Cackles