Lydia Garland

Charlize steered across the hospital parking lot, stopping for some pedestrians that were crossing. She found a good parking space not far from the entrance, but as had become the ritual, she stopped for a moment to meditate. She thought sadly back to the better times, before Ava’s bad habits had become too inflated and serious. She never had heeded anyone’s advice, and soon she was vanquished, bedridden, and trapped beneath those gaudy sheets in the hospital room. Sighing, she exited the van and walked laboriously toward the entrance. The hospital, despite its peculiar smell, was cosmopolitan, and oddly she was relieved that Ava had made it here, of all places. Lost in thought, she realized she had come to the patient’s room, and quietly opened the door, sliding inside. She looked at Ava’s wan features; Ava’s face so akin to her own. The IV pulsed beside Ava’s bed, transmitting the vital vitamins to her blood.

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston Middle School, Grade 7

Grammy

Iraq

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston Middle School, Grade 7

War,
Soldiers,
Desert.

All things I think of when I hear “Iraq”.

Teacher,
Death,
Waiting.

Waiting for what?

Innocent Children,
Women,
Men.

Not one person is safe from this.

End,
Beginning,
Middle

The end of war, the beginning of peace, the middle of life.

Why,
Hope,
Prayer.

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston Middle School, Grade 7

Garth***,

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston Middle School, Grade 7

Snow

The first snow!
Yipeee!
sledding, going faster and faster, STOP!
Bottom of the hill.
Time to snowmobile!
So fast tears stream from your eyes,
wind whipping your hair.
All because of snow.
As my friends and I ride my horses,
we comment on how picture perfect everything is.
“Click”, taking pictures of snow covered trees.
Brrr! So cold!
Wanting to sip some Hot Coaco.
No, first shoveling.
Not the best, But wait!
Lucky me!
It’ s light, fluffy powder!
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
FINALLY!
Hot Chocolate, complete with mini marshmallows!
It reaches my mouth! Mmmmm. Delish!
The perfect first snow. All packed into one full day.
My last thought falling asleep is, “I love snow!”

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston Middle School, Grade 7

Snow

The first snow!
Yipeee!
sledding, going faster and faster, STOP!
Bottom of the hill.
Time to snowmobile!
So fast tears stream from your eyes,
wind whipping your hair.
All because of snow.
As my friends and I ride my horses,
we comment on how picture perfect everything is.

Lydia Garland
Dummerston School, Grade 7

Snow is....
cold
fluffy
white
crisp
blinding
flurry
soft
Snow falls from something Big and Puffy
big
white
fluffy
puffy
clouds

Lydia Garland
Dummerston School, Grade 7

Sisters

Bang, Crash, Boom
Her and I, sweet silence.
Crack. Smash.
The swing gently rocking, Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
Just us. Sitting in the humid air. Watching in awe, the natural beauty that only a thunderstorm can bring.
Even at those late hours, most likely between 11 and 12 o’ clock at night,
She knew just what to say, even if that meant saying nothing.
This Night is the best gift I have been given, although not a keepsake.

Losing Weight

By Lydia Garland
Dummerston School, Grade 7

Losing Weight

The pressure today to become skinny is too great.

I am grateful for family
I am grateful for hard working people
I am grateful for our home
I am grateful for all the friends in my life
I am grateful for the right to practice religion freely
I am grateful for all of my mentors who teach me to walk a good path
I am grateful for the resources to learn about other countries cultures
I am grateful for the right to free speech

Incredi-Girl to the rescue! Well in case you haven't guessed, I am a super hero. I have three superpowers, flight, speed, and strength. I got these powers about six years ago, when I wandered into a vat of radio-active sludge. So now I can fly through the air, run so fast I can't be seen!