Karlie Kauffeld

We bonded
as we ran through the woods
with our heart rate monitors
checking our watches
and calling out
“Shoot! I’m not in my training zone!”
and answering
“Let’s go faster!”
and when it was over
I ran through the woods
searching for someone to follow
out of the woods
back to gym class.

Converse

By Karlie Kauffeld
Leland and Gray Union High School, Grade 11

Normally, I despise bragging, boasting, swaggering, crowing, and gloating...
However, I want the world to know that I am swell. From years of experience, I have learned that the world tends to close its mind to the possibility that instruments may have personalities. Now, pardon me, there a few believers. Such as my girl,she is a believer, clearly, or else she wouldn’t be typing this as I narrate it to her. My girl and... hmm, maybe her music teachers, I’m sure at least one of them is a believer. My girl is nodding and saying, “definitely,” so apparently it must be so.
My girl, knows everything. I’ve heard her say that sometimes people who love their
instruments, start to remind her of instruments, she laughed and nodded again. She says, “Yes, like one of my music teachers reminds me of a saxophone, the other, a tuba. That’s just how it works.” My girl... can be strange. I know that she doesn’t remind herself of a flute. She scoffs and says, “definitely not.”

I like to think

By Karlie Kauffeld
Leland and Gray Union High School, Grade 11

It seems like only yesterday
that we were driving through town
to see the latest movie
going out to eat
taking on the 17-scoop ice cream
playing in the fountain on the common
making earrings
making friends
making wishes
gossiping
complaining
crying
laughing
smiling
loving.
And now
you're leaving.
Your time has come
this part of your life is over.
I fall into the chunk of memories
labeled,
"high school past times."
I am trying to be OK with that
but you know I'll miss you.
Nothing will be the same.
different gossiping, different complaining and crying.
Different laughing, smiling and story telling.
but I like to think
that I helped you get through
those teenage years that our parents
have grown to dread.
I like to think
that I've helped shape who you are today
in that silly gown
shaking hands
hugging family
I like to think

Would Have . . .

By Karlie Kauffeld
Leland and Gray Union High School, Grade 11

“Your Grandmother would have loved you”
they tell me
When I come dancing out of my room,
in a teal feather boa.
When I clip enormous flashy earrings
onto my tiny earlobes.
When I belt out Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”
for my chuckling family.
When I insist that dressing up in my nice Easter dress
is, in fact, wearing a fairy skirt with spotted pink tights.
When I beg to buy a shirt
spattered with magentas and greens.
When I carry the silver, sequin-covered prom dress
into the tiny dressing room
remarking, “Gee, this does look good!”
always,
“Your Grandmother would have loved you”

Oh Good, Prom

By Karlie Kauffeld
Leland and Gray Union High School, Grade 11

So, here I am.
Two weeks until prom, and dateless. Very, very dateless. The world has clouded over
for me. All talk is of the prom, all announcements are about the prom, all the posters on the
walls and the telephone conversations: PROM. And you know what? Every other girl
seems to have a date! Why me? I am a perfectly able dancer, I have mildly styleable
hair, and I’m sure I could find a dress that would flatter me. But do I have need to
prove any of those things? NO. While one might argue that you needn’t have a date to
attend the annual junior/senior prom, the dateless attendee would reply that after
dozens of pitiful glances cast in their direction, and after standing near the table piled
with cheese and crackers making small talk with your English teacher who’s
chaperoning, a date is absolutely necessary.