Editor’s Note For over 100 issues—two years of writing—the writing class at Decatur General West has published a book of short stories and poems. Their stories are veiled narratives about their inner thoughts and beliefs, even though most of their stories are fantasy or quirky surrealism. They live in magical kingdoms—places where their subnormal lives can breathe and be more than human, better than a foster child or an adolescent that can’t seem to please anyone. Fiction becomes the only place where they can write happy endings, because so much has already happened to them. Most of them have a strong desire to love and be loved, and for over an hour each morning, they write and discuss fiction with enthusiasm. It releases the creative imagination and calms them.

I do not edit the stories or correct them in any way. They appear as the student typed them. Nor do I try to figure out their lives, but I do point out the similarities between their stories and their real situations. I show, instead of tell. But mostly I create what the Germans call lebensraum, room to live in. It’s a place where anything is possible, a place where they can be themselves—free of judgment, a place where they belong, where they can feel like part of a group, a place that reminds them that they are alive and things will get better. This has been the goal now for 100 issues. —Robert Stofel, Editor

“Everyone must learn before they die, what they are running from, what they’re running to, and why.”

—James Thurber

The Performance TrapSelf-Worth = Performance + Other People’s Opinions

(Never Live By This Formula)

Self-Worth Should always = Self-acceptance + love toward Others

Issue 126Issue 12604.12.2011

Cover Art

by Zebrina

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Running By NicoleHaunted eyesBreaking freeA million liesMade by meRacing mindLeave me beToo hard to findToo hard to see

Cropped hairBroken heartMe and him the perfect pair

Blank lookAll aloneAll was tookAll was shown…

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Second ChanceSecond ChanceBy ZebrinaBy Zebrina

Once a upon a time there stood a tree, it had been there for years and it was growing old .The tree thought 2 herself I am grown and I can do whatever I want. And what she failed to realize was that every time she thought negative

thoughts she grew older. The angel of death shot down from heaven and said u must change your way or I will have to chop you down .you think are so grown but u cant even provide for yourself and the angels says since u can’t get it

together ur punishment will be easy u will be chopped down and the tree replies MEANING I WILL DIE…PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE I PROMISE I WILL DO BETTER says the tree and the angel replies ok one more chance but if u mess up it head that on the line and the tree thanks the angel and the tree never acted older or grown again.

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30-year Coast GuardBy Justin

This is a story about my stepdad Cherokee and he was a Coast Guard officer in Vietnam. On his couple last weeks it was getting tough. Men were injured, so Cherokee stood up and said, “Lets fight for the captured solders and families.”

The next morning they were up loading guns ready for a war. Then it was time for the war gunshots and grenades thrown and my stepdads army won the war.

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Superhero By Anthony

This is superhero, he is a great superhero he fights all the battles to win a macth. Superhero. He fights all the batteles, he zaps at the aliens as they go, pass them over again. Hes fighters hes the best hes superhero.

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One Last Wish By Emmera

I am weary. I've never traveled so far. And for what? A silly little "magical" river? I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. As if my one and only wish would actually come true.. to find true love. Unconditional, pure, raw, love. It'll never work. I see it! Maybe it will work after all. Maybe my wish will be fulfilled. Here I go...

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The Skeleton ProfessorBy AndrewThere was a skeleton named professer Peace he was teaching his class and smoking out of his pipe filled with

rainbow’s he had a head band that was red, white, and pupler White hair he was smoking while teaching his class he passed out and he never woke up again. But they say his spirit still walks the earth.

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AloneBy Elana

She’s alone, frustrated, and sad. In a place she doesn’t belong. Why is she here? Why must this be the first choice? One thing keeps her going. That’s faith. Faith that

she will be saved. Faith that her family will walk through the door at to shelter her at any moment. She doesn’t want to be grown up any more. She wants to go back to her young innocent self. Her family doesn’t see her that way anymore. Neither does anyone else. It isn’t very important anymore, she just wants to go to the one place that she feels safe, home.

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Danielle By Zebrina

A young girl named Danielle has forgotten herself. She stands in the mirror wondering who is staring back at her. She cries wondering where she has lost herself and where she would

find it. Months and months pass by and she feels the same way she set down for a second and thought about where she lost herself. Maybe if she thought hard enough she would find herself. One week later she takes her mom off to the side and promises her that she will never disrespect her again.

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Reconstruction By Elana

She loved him, with all of her heart. For a year she was fooled. For a year she was made to believe he was the best. Unfaithfully, he

cared. Unconditionally, she loved. Time goes by, and he breaks her heart for the last time, but it was the most hurtful. Finally, she realized her was the boy her parents always warned her about, a heartbreaker in disguise. After another year, she is still heartbroken but he has moved on. In more time, she realizes she doesn’t need any boy to make her happy. She finally found happiness in herself, and she is finally reconstructed.

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Brand New WorldBy NicoleHis brown hair is moved by cold wind. It's bitter. It bites his nose and cheeks. Trees whisper and shake off snow

telling him their story. He eyes the clouds overhead. Thick eyelashes rim golden brown eyes. Pink lips turn blue in the frost. Snow crunches beneath his boots. He's lost now. Turning quickly, he changes direction. Ice covers his gloved hands and his thick jacket barely keeps the snow at bay. He doesn't remember how he got here. He doesn't know a thing. All he knows is the warmth of her and it's all that's keeping him alive.

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He tells himself he wants to get back to her but he never really had her. His heart was always to cold to accept her. He taught her about life. She was always so naive. But now he understands it was her that he wants. The world around him screams it. The look in her eye he remembers so well said it and now it's too late. It feels like he's walked for days when he falls back into a snowdrift. For awhile he lays in the cold freezing snow, then shuts his eyes. He eternally dreams of her in this icy new world.

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Rapper HeroBy Justin

A rapper named 50 cent was coming home one day as he turned on to street their was people braking into houses and stealing from families. So the next day 50 cent sang a song to turn the robbers back to good people and it worked and everything was back to normal.

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Homesick By Andrew

Home sick is like a fluHome sick is like a coldHome sick is when your

Stomach turns and makes you Sick of missing home.

Heartbreaking and delightful, moving and hopeful, Issue 126 reminds us how wonderful and expansive our imaginations really are. This collection of short stories captures the deepest, purest, most terrifying experience of life, but no matter how difficult our struggle, love underlies it all and saves us. With great insight and humor, Issue 126 will move you and make you laugh, exploring our human quest for connection and salvation as it reveals