ALARM Volume V Issue 1

Short Stories Poetry Essays A L A R M Volume 5, Issue 1 Oneida High School 2 2 Our intention is to be a representation of the Oneida High School community. With that said, we would like to solicit submissions from outside our Creative Writing class as well. We are looking for original poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essays, and artwork that you are willing to share with the OHS community. Anonymous submissions will neither be accepted nor published. Works submitted are subject to editing for space and content. The staff reserves the right to not publish submissions as well. Alarm volume V, issue 1 ALARM, the literary magazine of Oneida High School, is published by the students enrolled in Creative Writing. Submissions from the student body are encouraged. Please see Mr. Kirkpatrick in Room 112, Mr. Kramer in Room 120, or the student editor if interested in submitting your original writing or artwork. staff Editor: Isaac Colvin Contributing Writers & Artists: Reanna Bavo Arianna Bracy Mary Brown Isaac Colvin Jordan Grinnell Ayah Ottaifa Ella Rainbow Sophia Skinner Staff Advisors: Mr. Kirkpatrick Mr. Kramer We would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to our fifth volume of ALARM. We invite you to share and create right along with us. So who are we? We are a collection and, hopefully, a reflection: a collection of voices, spirits, writers, sharers, surprises, wallflowers, athletes, dreamers, wanderers, naysayers, visionaries, punks, nerds, loners, jocks, gamers, artists, leaders, followers, geeks, heroes, victims, gladiators, jokers, truth-tellers, thespians, outsiders, emos, rockers, preps, mean girls, wannabees, skaters, musicians, adventurers, and homebodies. But mostly, we are you, and you are us. As you read through our current issue, maybe you'll recognize yourself in the following pages. Jordan Grinnell Ayah Ottaifa A tear who cries every single day and night, a mouth who talks too much and never stops.  Which is to say, I used to cry more and talk less, Which is to say, my brain is like a puzzle, putting each word I say together, one piece at a time and my feelings are like the wind that blows everywhere, not knowing which feeling goes to which person, and my tear is like the rain dropping every single day and night to speak.   Arianna Bracy Which IS to Say... I may not come from a broken home, but I am inside a broken mind. Which is to say, I have depression and anxiety.   I don’t normally talk about it, because people are close minded. Which is to say, they are afraid of what they don’t understand.   Most days I am okay. Get up, go to school, hang out with people I care about, and the day is okay. But most nights, after people are gone and I am alone, There is nothing else to do but sit and think. Which is to say, I think about when I was happy.   3  Sometimes I wish I were always happy, which is to say There are some things that ruin my day.  Sometimes I wish I were invincible, which is to say, I was bullied From 6th grade to last year, and the wounds don’t go away.  Sometimes I wish my family and I haven’t had so many hard times, which is to say, it feels like we’ve seen it all, from a flood to the death of our 13-year-old dog.  Which is to Say... They say I am always happy, That I always have a smile on my face. Which is to say I’m good at making people believe that I am okay, even if I’m not sometimes.   I find joy in makeup. I could spend endless amounts of money on it. Which is to say I’m creative and use makeup to express myself, Not to hide myself and my insecurities from the world.   I gave up my dreams of NYU and theatre. Which is to say I’m bad with failure and rejection. I have accepted the fact that I won’t enjoy college as a music major. I worry about being wrong. I sit in class afraid to speak up, never standing up for myself. Which is to say I fear being judged and hate being wrong. I avoid conflict at all cost.  I get involved with too many things, But I like putting myself in the community to help people. Which is to say I hate being bored and Want to make a difference in the world.  I can’t wait for the future. I am constantly dreaming of how it will turn out And wanting to be in the later than the now. Which is to say I am ambitious and a dreamer.   4 I smile a lot Which is to say, I am happy Happy about how I live my life each and every day. I talk too much Which is to say, I have a lot to say. I want to be heard for what I have to say I think too much Which is to say, I have a lot on my mind Sometimes I forget and say my thoughts out loud. I let people in thinking that they will be a good person, but as you start to get to know them, they change Which is to say, I can get hurt from allowing myself to be so vulnerable. I am sensitive Which is to say, I get sad easily. Sometimes one word will break me down. I am insecure Which is to say, I am not always confident. I do not like showing this, so I hide it behind a wall where all my insecurities really are.  I hate being wrong Which is to say, I always try to be right When I am not, I just pretend to be anyways. I have many friends Which is to say, I like to socialize But sometimes I still feel alone.  Everyone has different emotions Which is to say, everybody is unique We all have a story, only some are brave enough to tell. Reanna Bavo Mary Brown Ella Rainbow I don’t like attention being drawn to me, which is to say, I don't like speaking in front of a large group of people . I am not entirely shy, which is to say, I am Crazy Sing-along-Sophia when I am with my friends and family.  I may be content with who I am, which is to say, I am comfortable in my own skin.   Isaac Colvin Which Is To Say... Often I think that having power is an illusion, which is to say, power is delegated through people.  Sometimes I feel that power is the people’s perception of it, which is to say, everyone has eyes, ears, and a brain.  To everyone that has ever experienced absolute power, you are never fully in control, which is to say, power is in control of you.  5 Sophia Skinner I spend a lot of time with my family and do many activities with them, which is to say, I love being around them and love sharing life with the ones who love me most. Not only do they love me, but they believe in me when others don’t.   Sometimes I wish I spent more time with my friends, which is to say, my friends, Especially Kaylin Curro, are fun to hang out with. However, when I'm around my family, I am more myself than I am around my friends.  As much time as I spend with my family I want to be able to combine both of them, which is to say, I love being with both my family and friends. 6 If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a Christmas cookie, carefully sculpted into all different shapes and sizes as we worked for days on end making everyone’s favorites. Each one full of our laughs and most importantly, your love.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be long noodles of perciatelli. First the salt, then the perciatelli, perfectly cooked al dente. Served under your famous sauce and meatballs.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a pink blanket. The blanket that seemed to bring you comfort in the hospital. It now resides in my closet in your box whenever it isn’t grasped to my chest as I imagine that you’re there with me.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be your hand. The right grasp you had left on reality after those three days. The hand that would search for mine whenever I was absent. The hand that spoke the thoughts your mouth couldn’t. The hand I wish I could hold one last time.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a tissue. The tissue that caught my tears as they endlessly flowed from my eyes when I said goodbye to you on that Sunday night. The tissue crumpled up in my hands as they slowly lowered my best friend to her final resting place. The tissue that catches my tears whenever you cross my mind.   If it's true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands... According to poet Taylor Mali, some people believe that a part of you rubs off on everything you touch. Perhaps something slightly different is also true: Everything you touch exists inside of you. Mary Brown Ayah Ottaifa If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be the yellow sunshine color that makes us feel warm everyday.  If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, Then I must be the morning breeze swelling in the middle of my chest with its transparency and calmness.  If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a pencil that writes my feelings everyday.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be the resiliency of my phone case, as I always persist through hard times. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be a perfect new soccer ball, looking to win and find the back of the net.  If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be the anger in my sword when I slice through the trees.  7 If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a well-worn basketball, always searching for the hoop, aiming for victory.   If it's true I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be the picture which captures my family on vacation, likewise filled with joy, love, and fun.  If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be the phone that I use everyday, using it to communicate with my family, talk with my friends, and Face-Time with Kaylin Curro.  Ella Rainbow Isaac Colvin If it's true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands... According to poet Taylor Mali, some people believe that a part of you rubs off on everything you touch. Perhaps something slightly different is also true: Everything you touch exists inside of you. Reanna Bavo Sophia Skinner If it’s true that I am little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, I am my baby brother’s little hands that I would hold when he was younger, so innocent and small. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be hugs, warm and loving. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, I am the fresh warm chocolate chip cookies that I love to eat, gooey with oozing happiness. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, I am my favorite oversized sweaters, soft and warm, able to make me feel better on days I don’t feel so good. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, I am my blankets that are so comforting when I snuggle into them on blustery winter mornings when I’ll sleep in past my alarm just to stay cozy. If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have touched and held in my hands, then I am the ocean and beach, the happiest place in the world where you can feel the sunshine no matter where you are.  If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be my aux cord blasting music that makes me feel alive through the car while driving with my friends. If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a sunflower, strong, tall and full of sunshine. If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a red and white striped beach towel laying in the sand by the ocean or on the hot cement by the pool on a steamy summer afternoon. If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be contacts, fresh and ready to go into my eyes to help me see clearly so I can start each day. If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be hot chocolate, filling my body with warmth and comfort. If it is true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be a candy cane hanging on a Christmas tree waiting to be placed on the perfect tree branch.  If it's true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands... 8 Jordan Grinnell Arianna Bracy If it is true that I am a little bit of everything that I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be my 13-year old German Shepard named Dozer because every day I Would care for him like it was his last day.  If it is true that I am a little bit of everything that I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be my biological father. I remember him holding me and telling me I would be fine, but he never told me why and now I know I wish I could have spent more time with him before I was adopted.  If it is true that I am a little bit of everything that I have touched and held in my hands, then I must be my best friend Jacob because even though he is a guy, I can see him more as a brother than a friend.  If it's true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands... If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be the soft, warm, and comforting hug of my grey blanket, wrapped around my body whenever I am cold or feel alone.   I am the scent of the sweet rose perfume, sitting on my dresser waiting for a reason to be sprayed. The smooth and worn leather of my saddle and reins, as my horse and I glide over the jumps like birds in flight.  I must be the small silver ring on my finger that my mother gave me to remind me she will always love me. I am the scars and the bruises etched onto my being, from each and every time I’ve fallen and got back up.  The cool rush of water as I jump into the pool, suspended in motion as the water bubbles and dances around me.   If it’s true that I am a little bit of everything I have ever touched and held in my hands, then I must be the soft, comforting touch of my cat’s fur, as she lays on my lap purring like a tiny, living motor.   9