Runaways

Syria. Aleppo. 1948. It was a very odd morning for Edmundo. The 19 year old Jewish Arab that lost his mother and sister in an air raid three years earlier. He had woken up with the sound of a bomb coming from Israel. He could hear the screams of the people in his Jewish village, although the loudest sound came from his father’s mouth.

“Edmundo wake up! Get your stuff. We have to go now. The bombs are getting closer!” He then stood up as fast as he could, got a backpack from the top of his desk, and met his father at the door.

“This is it” his father said. Without any time to think, Edmundo saw his father’s open the door to the outside world. The discordant screams, the flames, the death that had been brought to his surroundings were unavoidable, but that just made him want to run faster. “We have to be very careful, very quiet. There are soldiers all around.” Edmundo’s father said.

It was early in the morning. Probably around 4:00 am. He and his father arrived at the port. They had to get on a Jewish refugee ship, a ship that most jews who could afford, would get on to escape to Milan, Italy. It would definitely take a long time, but they had to flee.

“Alright, here’s how this is gonna work,” his father whispered from behind the bush they were hiding in “At 5:15 am this ship is going to leave port, there are many ways this can go wrong, but whenever I tell you to run, you do it as fast as you can, alright?”

“Yes, sir,” Edmundo answered with respect and a certain amount of fear for his father...

The time had come. Edmundo put the backpack that had rested on the dirt, on his back, and with just a small word the 19 year old boy’s life would change completely.

“Run” his father said.

Edmundo ran. He ran like he never had. He thought of his mother and sister, hoping that his death wouldn’t be the same as theirs. He thought of his father’s depression, but mostly of their future. After 400 meters he had gotten to the door of the ship. They knew most of the jews that were fleeing by the ship, but many of the people in their village couldn’t afford paying for their escape. His father was very known in the Jewish community, and it was definitely to their advantage. Their family had money and used to help poorer families and orphans that had lost their parents in bombings and raids. They had even helped a few people to get on that ship with their families. After a few seconds of adrenaline, Edmundo realized his father hadn’t arrived with him. He turned around to look for him, but it was too dark to see. Suddenly he saw lights in the distance, four precisely. He realized they were flashlights when he saw the men. He couldn't believe it. His father had been kidnapped by Syrian soldiers.

After the news had arrived to the captain, the refugees had reached an almost unanimous decision. The ship would wait in port until Edmundo’s father was rescued. Everyone slept on deck. After the soldiers realized who the man they’d captured was and what he was worth, they sent a request for his ransom. It took Edmundo two weeks to gather all of the money. He borrowed some from friends, and even went back to the house to get some more from the buried safe in the basement. Finally, he had gathered 25 million Syrian pounds (equal to almost 50 thousand U$D).

“There’s your father! He’s here!” a young Jewish boy sitting by the deck screamed, waking up Emundo and the others.

“It really is him,” Edmundo thought to himself, running outside to rescue his father. He had the money in a bag, a gun in his pocket in case something went wrong, and had told the captain to turn on the engines, so that they’d leave as soon as they got his father back.

He could spot his father, being held by two men, one on each side, they were about 50 meters away from Edmundo. He noticed a car behind the men as he walked closer to them and figured the other two must’ve been in the car…

“Tawaquf! Tawaquf!” yelled one of the men holding his father.

Edmundo right away noticed the soldier had a dialect that was different, but could still understand that he was being asked to stop.

All of a sudden a knife was pulled out of the soldier’s back pocket.

“Stop! I have the money. Let’s make the exchange… Please, don’t do anything aggressive!” screamed the 19 year old, already in great stress. In the blink of an eye, Edmundo could see around thirty more soldiers coming out of bushes and from behind the car. It was an ambush. He grabbed his gun that was attached to the back part of his pants, and pointed it straight ahead.

“Drop the gun!” screamed the soldier on the right to his father, “You lost. This isn’t going anywhere! Drop the gun and get on your knees!”

Edmundo was in state of shock. He couldn’t move, but he knew he’d do anything to save his father.

“Take me!” he screamed with fear.

“No, no! Don’t do this! Leave me here, go back to the ship! Leave! Now!” His father screamed, knowing that he would get punished for communicating with his son.

“Shut up! No talking!” The soldier on the left pulled out a gun and hit him in the face with it twice.

Edmundo’s father realized the only way his son could leave that situation safely was if he, himself, was sacrificed. In a matter of seconds Edmundo’s father kicked the man on his right, grabbed the gun out of the other soldier’s hand and pointed it at his own head.

“No!” screamed Edmundo from a distance.

A shot was fired.

The Sea King’s Pride

The Sea King’s Pride

Gosen, Svenja. “Pirate Queen.” Digital Work, 2018, svenjaliv.com/pirate-queen/.

Blazing golden light surrounded her as she descended from the final trial site atop the mountain at the center of the Sea King’s Island. As the light faded, Lila marveled at the sight she beheld, miles and miles of her beloved sea. From her place at the mountain's peak, the ship she belonged to looked like a tiny dot among the waves. Squinting her eyes, she realized there were more dots surrounding her ship, meaning only one thing. “The Terra-Angelus Navy!” she gasped hand flying to her mouth. Fearing the worst, she sped down the mountain. Using her new power bestowed by the Sea King, she rushed to the cove where the ship was docked. She sprinted up the gangplank, inquiring about the situation.

A pirate spun to face her upon hearing her voice, “Lila! Oh, thank the Sea King you’re alive! You were up there for so long. We were getting worried.”

“Well I’m here now, but why’s the Terra-Angelus Navy here?”

“It’s a mystery to us, too. They arrived after the seventh flash of light, but they haven’t moved yet.”

Suddenly an amplified voice rang out, rippling across the calm waters of the cove. “Blood-Stained Blade, Captain of the Blood-Spilling Pirates. If you value your life, hand over the Sea King’s Pride! Give us the girl or die.”

Instantly the pirates replied, “Over our dead bodies, you scallywag!”

The response made the navy’s admiral chuckle, “Of course. Typical pirates,” he scoffed, “Mage. Bring us the girl.” The mage nodded as he sunk into the shadows.

“Sorry missy, you're coming with us,” the masked figure whispered into Lila’s ear, drawing her into the shadows and out onto the other ship’s deck. “Mission accomplished, Boss,” he said to the man. And with that, the navy left with the shaken girl, leaving the pirates behind.

“Where are you taking me?” Lila cowered with fear, “Are you going to kill me?”

“You’ll see Miss,” the admiral replied, “Don’t worry, I can’t give that order.”

Once the ships docked, Lila was taken to the dias, where she witnessed a mass of people… bowing… to her? She could hear cries of happiness and “Your Majesty!”.

“Why are you bowing? Please stand up,” she called out, clearly flustered by the sudden action.

“Lila, you are the completer of the ten trials of the Sea King. Thus, the rightful ruler of this kingdom.

“Pardon me, but you are..?”

“My name is Leonard, the chief advisor. But there’s no time to talk, let's get you cleaned up.” Leonard was a wiry middle-aged man, with a dangerous glint in his eyes. But before she could closely examine them, she was whisked away into a room full of maids. Immediately, they sprang into action, pulling out dresses and weird makeup tools. The maids tugged and pulled at her clothes, dismissing her meek desire to dress by herself.

The lengthy tour with Leonard drained her, and she found herself relieved as they reached a balcony overlooking the sea. A nasty drop. Lila basked in the scent of the sea breeze, but the picturesque moment was ruined by the sound of rattling chains.

“Best not to go to close, Your Highness.” Lila ignored him.

“Was that the sound of chains?” she asked quietly.

“Nonsense, Your Majesty, that was just the hinges.” Lila noticed he wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“I’ve been a pirate long enough to know what chains sound like, and that was clearly sound from chains Leonard,” she snapped.

“I’m sure it was nothing. Besides, now you’re a queen, not a pirate.”

“I will always be a pirate, Leonard,” she said quietly before rushing out onto the balcony and climbing onto the railing.

“Your Majesty, please wait!” Leonard shouted. Lila turned around from atop the railing.

“I’m sorry Leonard, but the sea is my home,” she said as she closed her eyes.

He rushed towards her shouting, “NO!!!” But it was too late, she jumped.

Leonard slumped to his knees and cried out clutching his head, “ Damnit! … We lost our sacrifice to the Earthen King. What can we do now? She was the only possible candidate.” He rose from his place on the floor and walked inside muttering, “I guess we’ll have to go back to sacrificing the pure and innocent. Oh well. It has worked for over three hundred years.”

Lila watched him leave and then waited another minute submerged under the waves. Once she counted to sixty in her head, she swam to the surface and climbed up onto the outcropping jutting from the cliffside. She pulled a dagger from the hidden sheath at her thigh and started to cut away her dress to reveal her waterproof, insulated pirate’s gear. She stuffed the ripped garment into a crevice in the rock and proceeded to take out a flask and lighter from the small pouch at her waist. She then dumped the flask’s contents onto the shredded dress and set it ablaze. Once confident all traces of her possessions from the palace were burnt, she replaced her equipment and dove back into the water. Once she reached a suitable depth, she set out towards the rendezvous point the ship’s navigator set. Due to her many years as a pirate out on the open seas, she was an excellent swimmer and an experienced diver. Lila only surfaced three times before the ship came into view. She resurfaced for the last time and started to wave at the ship, trying to get the attention of her crewmates. Once they spotted her, they unfurled a ladder which she used to climb aboard. As soon as she stepped foot on the deck, the entire crew dropped to their knees as she passed. The first mate came up to her, took her coat and handed her a towel, which she took gratefully.

“Lila, how was your stay at the palace?” he asked with a smirk.

“Amazing Jonathan, absolutely amazing. Amazingly horrendous,” she replied with her smile fading to a sneer.

“Just like we thought … Cap’n.”

War

“So, I guess that means we’re going home then?” asks Charlotte Wallace.

“Yeah, I guess, unless we can find somewhere else to go for summer vacation,” Charlotte’s mom, Stella, replies disappointedly.

“No, I refuse to stay home this summer. We can go to, uh, Florida!” proposes Alyssa, Charlotte’s other mom, “We can take you to Disney World sweetheart!”

“Yay!” says Charlotte, “I’ve wanted to go to Disney World ever since my friend went last year, and-”

“Wait a second sweetie, Alyssa, did you hear that?” asks Stella. She turns the volume up once again: “BREAKING NEWS: FLORIDA HAS NOW BEEN DEEMED TOO DANGEROUS TO GO TO; ALL FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED. TO THOSE IN FLORIDA NOW, STAY SAFE,”. She lowers the volume again and says Stella “Dang, so there goes our plans of just going to Florida instead, home-”

Alyssa suddenly interrupts Stella’s sentence before she is able to finish, “No! No, we aren’t going home. We can go somewhere else, just not back home.”

“But where? We can’t even go to Disneyland in California because it’s being renovated at the moment,” explains Stella disappointedly.

“Mommy, why do you want to travel so badly?” asks little Charlotte, reluctant to answer her daughter’s question and turns to Stella.

“Charlotte, your mom really wants to travel because she has always wanted to see the world. Your mom is very adventurous and staying here is tedious to her,” says Stella. Alyssa is having a harder time dealing with the war than Stella. The current war is affecting large numbers of people and their lives drastically. People are gathering food and supplies for their war shelters. They’re also attempting to get out of The Americas altogether.

“Oh, I didn’t know you wanted to see the world mommy. Where can we go then?” asks Charlotte.

“Paris! We can go to the Disney World in Paris, and while we’re there we can sightsee!” suggests Alyssa excitedly. They agree to travel to Paris for a during the summer. As they’re driving, they pass a building on fire, Alyssa sniffles. Then the news comes on: “BREAKING NEWS: THE WAR OUTBREAK-.” Alyssa turns the radio off before her daughter can hear. She looks in the back and sees her sound asleep.

They reach the airport, take their luggage out of the car, and advance to the front desk. Luckily they are able to buy tickets to Paris, France at the last minute. They proceed through security, which happens to be longer than usual because of the war. Eventually, it’s time for them to take off. They sleep the entire flight due to the fact that it is 2 a.m and they’re all worn out.

Finally, they land, it’s 10 a.m later that day. They get their luggage and take a taxi to a cafe because they’re all hungry, especially Charlotte, after that flight. While they are at the cafe they not only eat but also begin looking for hotels to stay in. As they are looking, they realize all the hotels in Paris are booked as a result of the war. Alyssa and Stella decide not to give up, and they keep looking for hotels. Then finally Stella declares, “I found one! This hotel says ‘Rooms available’.” They then rush out of the cafe to the hotel.

When they arrive, there is only one room left in the hotel and they go to war with a couple over it and don’t end up getting it. The Wallaces leave while they try to figure out a temporary living situation. They notice many people at war for the last room in hotels, the remaining food in stores, and many other items. The population all over the world is growing dramatically, another result of people from the Americans moving and making resources scarce.

Then right then and there, Stella realizes they really have nowhere to go. They stand there on the sidewalk thinking of what to do, where they should go. Then Alyssa remembers that they can stay with her aunts that immigrated to Paris a few years ago. They unexpectedly show up at their house and are welcomed with open arms. They are glad that being around family has been able to save their summer break.

Diamond, Des. War Background. Diamond, Des. War Background. 

Big Crimson Love

“You are the most beautiful woman, nay, creature I have ever laid my eyes on!” cried the

Sailor in delight. Never had he ever met someone so beautiful, so magical, as the woman
he was talking to.

“Well, aren’t you a sweet man?” said the woman in the water. Her tail was swooning back

and forth as the most heartwarming smile appeared on her face. They had been chatting on the
shore for what seemed like hours. It started when the Sailor heard the Mermaid sing. Oh, that
sweet voice! It could lure any man to her, just like it lured the Sailor. Then, he saw her, and
they just talked. They talked, and talked, and talked.

“I can’t say I am. But you, my darling, have stolen my heart, and you are gripping it ever

so tightly. I am frankly somewhat ashamed that I let myself get seduced so easily. Oh, tell
me about your home, sweet princess. Tell me where you come from!”

The Mermaid giggled innocently at his compliments.

“Well, you are not wrong about me being a princess.” said the Mermaid.“My father is the

king of all of us Merfolk. We live not far from here, just a couple of miles away.
There really isn’t much to do there. Our pastime includes swimming, occasionally
collecting human artifacts, and some other activities. But we mostly just swim.
Oh, and we sometimes come to assist humans. I know our laws say that we
have to remain a secret, but many of us, such as myself, can see that you
humans have suffered a lot. It’s just so hard, you know? I have always
wanted more in life than just to swim but it seems like I can’t have that life.”
the Mermaid sighed. Goodness, even her sighs were beautiful to him.

“Well, to make you feel better, my life isn’t perfect either,” remarked the Sailor.
“When I was seven years of age, a dreadful fire claimed my house and the lives
of my parents. I was left orphaned an alone. That is when I learned how to survive.
I lived eight years as a street urchin: hunting wild animals, stealing from innocent
people, and many other horrible acts that I will never forgive myself for. One day,
someone found me attempting to steal his harpoon. He could have handed me over,
but he didn’t. He took me under his wing, and trained me to become a worthy sailor.
However, life is very difficult for me. It seems like there is always something new
to deliver, or somewhere else where there are pirates trying to loot and plunder.

But, I have recently been thinking about settling down. Starting a family.” the Sailor
turned to the Mermaid as a cheery smile appeared on his face.

“My beloved maiden of the ocean… would you kindly, please, leave the ocean and
join me on land, where we can live together forever?  Oh, please, I beg of you,
say yes!” The Sailor held  her hand tightly. The Mermaid blushed.

“My, that is quite a request…” The Mermaid said as she attempted to
embrace him. “I… I think it might just work. Oh, but I’m not sure if my father
would allow it. I will have to ask him. If he agrees, he’ll transform me into a
human. I hope he does.” The Mermaid looked down as she muttered something.
“I… I love you.” she said. That is all the Sailor had wanted to hear from her all day.
A confession of love from the melodious lady.

“I love you too darling. I will come back tomorrow to pick you up. Then, I will
introduce you to my captain and explain everything.” the Sailor replied. The Mermaid
nodded in understanding.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye!” the Mermaid exclaimed as she jumped back

into the ocean.

The following day, the Sailor went back to the shore in which he first met the Mermaid.

He went to look for her, but he could not find her.

“Darling? Darling, where are you?” the Sailor cried, but there was no response.

Suddenly, he heard a voice. A beautiful, enchanted voice singing the most
beautiful song he has ever heard.

“My love, I have found you!” the Sailor exclaimed. But when he turned to the direction

of the voice, he saw the Mermaid with another man. As the other man came closer,
the Mermaid embraced him, and dragged him into the water. The sea turned from
light blue to crimson red. The Sailor approached the area, just as the Mermaid
came out of the water.

“My love! There you are! I was looking all over for you.” said the Mermaid.

“I saw everything.” the Sailor uttered with difficulty.

“You… you did…? Oh, my dear, it’s not what you think! That man tried to
kill me!” cried the Mermaid, her beautiful, ill-intended voice was desperate.
The Sailor knew better though.

“I can’t believe that the woman I loved with all my heart…” said the Sailor
as he was taking out a harpoon, “would be my greatest prey.” Tears streamed
down his face.

Benajah, Nsey. “Mermaid Generic.” ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 June 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-11/mermaid-generic/9849844.

the summoning

This is the last place I thought that I would be in right now. But then again, here I am. Standing nervously in a shadowy, barely lit, circular room, surrounded by hooded figures, all murmuring words which were just barely out of my hearing range. I was summoned to this magical and mysterious location, which I was only able to witness from afar when I was in my early years. The Mages, as the common folk tend to call them, of this establishment are some of the most popular and famous people in our world. It is so esteemed, that out of thousands of contestants who wish to join them, only a meager number manage to pass the first test, and even less manage to scrape by and get through the rest of the tests. For reasons beyond even me, I've managed to pass almost every exam with flying colors, and now I stood before them one last time.

"Will contestant number 11037 please present their work?" the first hooded figure standing in the shadows announced, "This will be your last and final test on your ability to animate the unliving." I was snapped out of my nervous thoughts. Contestant number 11037- that was me alright! This number only goes to show how many young men and women came here before me and stood in the same shadow covered, dimly lit room, only to be swatted away when they simply weren't enough. I walked into the center of the room with uncertainty, the spell I so carefully crafted inserted inside a special contraption. As I readied myself to present my work, a small, quiet tone started playing from a seemingly invisible music box. Suddenly, as it stopped, a black ghostly figure materialized behind me. A little shadow, covered in shades of black and grey- with the only exception being its eyes- which were a bright, glistening white. While frightening at first, this shadow's only mission and purpose is to aid the lonely and the neglected. It protects them, like a comforting eclipse covering one's sorrows, and like a mother's love- infinite and unconditional.

In the end, I was spent and exhausted. I showed them everything I had, yet they haven't moved an inch. Will I end up like all of competitors before me, yet another failed contestant who must go home in shame? Accept that "Some people aren't made for this job. See what momma told you? You'll get nowhere if you keep on chasing shadows and fantasies?" and continue my life as a simple child, abandoned by all those around me? As I dejectedly turned to leave, the first instructor swiftly announced with a booming voice "The test is officially over," and then in a warmer voice told me what I was waiting for since I came,

"You got the job. Welcome to the Witchcraft Studio, the most esteemed animation studio in the world!" the examiner exclaimed. “We simply adored how lifelike your little creation was. We felt like it was alive! With how realistic your animation is, I think it will be our utmost pleasure to work with you.”

The shutters that hid away the sun now flew up, chasing away any sign of the shadows that were occupying the room before. I sighed in relief as I took the contraption, a simple projector I used to show my work. I didn't bother opening it, since unlike any of the other contestants, I didn’t use the conventional methods and I knew that no film would be found inside. They were ignorant enough to not notice what was in front of them. As I exited my new workplace and began walking down the street, discerning bystanders might had noticed a small, sad tune coming from an invisible music box, almost drowned out by the traffic outside. They may have noticed a little "friend" following me; a small shadow with glimmering white eyes. A special spell I've made for myself, after years of neglect from the common folk around me, which came out of being forced to hide my true nature as a member of the almost extinct Shadow Witches.

Illustration by Hadas Friedman

Pencil Cases

“As I was saying, we are all going to die in this crummy box,” Abeba pessimistically insisted. A grand, lively pencil case with tie-dye patterns all over, filled with all the colors of the rainbow. That box, the Abeba was referring to, had been down there for about 20 years. It was once a beautiful, colorful, and full of life. However, ever since there was a new manager in the store, the box and those inside were left to rot. The box was once colorful and now it is drained of those colors. The beauty it once had was gone now. The top edges ripped apart due to a cat biting on it. For 15 years there have been two gorgeous pencil cases inside that box, forgotten. 

Ahmed, the second pencil case in that box had been in love with her for as long as he could remember. She lights up his life which apparently will be spent in here. 

“I’m telling you for the last time. The only way that we are getting out of here is if we climb to that top shelf. Once we’re up there, we can't be refused. They are the ones speaking of freedom all the time. It would make them hypocrites if they don't let us in,” Ahmed repeated for the hundredth time, a blue pencil case with a rainbow and a unicorn sewn on the front.

“Don't you see? The next generation of pencil cases is already up there. Will they really accept us?” Abeba asked.

“Abeba, all we want is a home, right? Someone to take us home and take care of us. That’s all we have ever wanted,” Ahmed answered her. “We are in a vile box, for heaven’s sake, we could get trampled on any second. We want a safer place to stay and live, is that such an evil act?”

“I suppose you’re right. After all, we are all pencil cases. We have the exact same purpose and inside, we just happen to look different on the outside. Wait, isn't the climb dangerous?”

“I’m not going to lie to you, yeah, it is very dangerous. However, it is our only hope. We can do this, Abeba,”

Abeba and Ahmed began their climb to what they thought would be their new haven. Little did they know, they wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms from their fellow pencil cases. Although technically speaking, their fellow pencil cases wouldn't welcome them with open zippers. 

Their haven is located at the 5th shelf, during that climb, that was all they saw. The possibility that freedom and opportunity that 5th shelf would give them. In front of Abeba and Ahmed was a sea of dangers with labels in the way of their climb, blocking their path. They were also dodging the hands of the children and parents who were taking items from the shelves. Nothing, absolutely nothing was going to get in between them and their last bit of hope. 

“Come on Ahmed, we’re almost there,” Abeba encourages Ahmed who is two shelves behind her. They are both about to pull themselves up onto the 5th shelf when suddenly the leader of the new generation of Top Shelf Pencil Cases (TSPC) appears. 

“Look who we have here. Your pencil cases have been trying to reach our shores for a while now. All of them failed. Do you think you can come and invade our homes?” the leader of the TSPC asked sarcastically.

“Listen, sir, we just want a home that protects us. We are all the same here, aren’t we? Please embrace us into your home and let us learn your culture as you learn ours. Let us live in peaceful harmony, kind sir,” Abeba pleaded.

“Now why would we do such a thing? So that you can bring all of your disgusting customs of how to live your life? Oh no wait, so you can steal all of our jobs by becoming the ones that are bought instead of us? Why would we ever trust you?"

“We just want help, and you are the only ones that can provide us with it. We don't wish you or anyone else harm. We want what everyone wants, love,” he said gently looking at Abeba. 

“Happiness, and a life full of delightful moments. Please help us. We just want to live.” Ahmed answered him, tears streaming down his face. 

The leader of TSPC stepped forward. He reached out a zipper. Ahmed and Abeba’s faces lit with faith, their hope having been restored. As they all locked zippers, the leader’s smile grew from side to side. A cynical expression filled his face, and it seemed to fill the entire store. Abeba and Ahmed already knew what was going to happen. Thrown out and shunned by their only hope, they accepted their fate. The leader let go, letting Ahmed and Abeba fall to the ground. Time stopped for both of them. Looking into each other's eyes wishing the pencil cases could see how little difference there is between them. They wanted to live, but instead were given to death’s cruel reach. They hit the ground and became invisible to everyone walking by. Hearts once filled with hope, shattered with reality’s screech. Those same hearts that were praying for a new beginning were trampled on and shredded into pieces. Destroyed by the people whom they needed to survive and live a wonderful life.

Illustration by: Fun With Fibro. Feeling Blue Pencil Case.

An Urgent Question

I scream. ZUR HÖLLE MIT DIR. In frustration, I throw my what feels like six hundred fifty fifth clothing item on the floor. The pile is growing at an alarming exponential rate. I’m on my period, I have been in pyjamas all day, and now I can’t find anything to wear. I don’t believe anyone truly doesn’t care about their looks, and I am no exception. In fact, I am always a little suspicious of those who say they don’t. I have heard people say “Looks don’t matter” and “First impressions made within six seconds matter” in one breath. I mean, that’s almost paradoxical. What do you notice within the first six seconds of seeing someone new? Certainly not the complexity of their soul. It doesn’t make sense. I look at the watch. 19:40. Five minutes. With a breath release that could probably blow away my closet, I let myself fall into the soft, lavender fragrant hill. I feel my muscles decontract, and I surrender to the muffled silence of cloth in my ear.

“How about the jeans shorts? They’re pretty. And appropriate. Apart from that, they don’t have paint stains like those horrible jeans of yours.”

Instinctively I reply, “I am sorry. Absolutely not. Have you seen the forecast? It’s twelve degrees outside and have you seen the…” Wait. One second. Where did that nasal, wheedling voice come from? It’s almost as if… no, but that can’t be. Clothes don’t come to life. It just doesn’t happen. Suddenly, an arm, or so it seems, breaks through the pile. I hear a high pitched tone, probably the sound of my own squeak. Only then I notice it is not an arm - it’s an empty sleeve.

“No need to be so surprised, young lady. We are at your service here. And no, the shorts are a terrible idea, they are way too cold. And besides, no offense - they make you look like a nun. Have some fun! How about your new pants? They make your ass look cute.” This voice is different. More squeaky. Annoying.

Indignantly I flare up. The arm retreats.

“You cannot say that! Who even are you?”

“Just a little outlier of your brain, dearie. Everything we say here is a thought that has crossed your mind before. And you cannot tell me that you don’t like looking good.”

“Don’t listen to my colleague. She only cares about your looks and nothing else. These pants aren't safe! They are almost begging for looks and comments. Or even worse things, if you know what I mean.”

I shake my head. Did I hear her correctly? I feel a wave of feminist impulses rising in me.

“You are even worse! My clothes don’t send any messages. They don’t invite or send anything - they would have to be able to talk to do that, haha …  I mean. Usually. But in any case, does my brother ever worry about being safe? My cousins? They walk around shirtless, for Christ’s sake. And I can’t even wear normal jeans anymore? Gosh. Stupid chauvinistic world.”

“YASSS! GET IT! You can walk around with your boobs out and you would still not be asking for it. And to you, safety department: how dare you say something so outrageous to a notorious feminist?”

“It is not outrageous. I am just concerned about your safety, darling. And I agree with you; it’s not fair. Absolutely not. But right now, it is the reality, and you achieve nothing by bringing yourself into unnecessary danger. You always walk faster when you are in a dark street, the only living human apart from another man… Don’t tell me you are never scared at night. Don’t tell me you don’t make a detour  to not have to go through the park when it’s dark out. Society just isn’t there yet.”

“Which is exactly why she has to fight it! She shouldn’t be disprivileged because she has a non-male gender.”

“She shouldn’t, but unfortunately she is!”

“And you are not willing to do anything about it! Take the mini skirt, Ava.”

“No no no, absolutely no way. The turtle neck is definitely the best choice.”

“Is she a turtle? Take the tank top!”

“Didn’t you say it was cold out? Your mother’s long coat!”

“Yoga Pants!”

“Skirt down to your ankles!”

“Leggings!”

“A long robe!”

“A bikin..”

The clock moves to 19:45, and suddenly there is - silence. The arm, or better said the sleeve, that was just outstretched in an almost aggressive manner, drops. I grab it. Throw it up. It falls down again. The pile of clothes is just a pile of clothes again. With a sigh, I grab loose pants and a sweater. The supermarket closes in a few minutes. I can solve the question of empowerment or safety another day.

Dandrea, Amanda. Dress Codes, Slut-Shaming, and the Male Gaze. 25 Nov. 2013.

Them.

Them.

Pasricha, Neil. “#458 Those Rare Moments When You’Re the Only Person on the Beach.” #458 Those Rare Moments When You’Re the Only Person on the Beach, Neil Pasricha, 20 July 2010, 1000awesomethings.com/2010/07/20/458-those-rare-moments-when-youre-the-only-person-on-the-beach/.

            I was just about to sit down when I saw someone out the window. It was only for a second but I already knew who it was. I quickly exited the cafe. I found him walking right into the parade and quickly followed him inside. I almost gave up on the search because of how many people there were until I saw him.

            “Ale! Ale! Ale, wait up!” I shouted his name but he didn’t look back. After I caught up to him, I reached out and grabbed his shoulder. But it wasn’t him. Confused, I decided to go back home and relax. I mean what else are you gonna do on a Saturday? Be a “productive member of society”? Oh please.

            But that wasn’t the only ghost I saw today. When I was at the grocery store looking for something to eat, I saw another one out of the corner of my eye. I called out her name, hoping to get anything from her. 

            “Madi?” She stopped. So she did recognize me. 

            “Madi, is that you?” Still no response. I was about to walk up to her until she said something that I wish she had said a long time ago: “Goodbye.” 

            When I blinked, she was already at the exit, opening the door. I dropped everything and ran after her. When I got outside, she was on the other end of the block, heading towards the crosswalk. I was about to reach her until I got hit by a cyclist. While on the ground, I looked up and saw her still walking but then she… disappeared? It was at this point that I knew I was officially losing it. 

            I had lost my appetite by the time I got home. I was on my couch, feeling like I just had the worst hangover ever.

            I thought back to my old life before I came to Israel. Thought about my old friends. After they left me, I tried to move on. I tried to put past in the trash. But now they’re back and I have a massive headache to deal with now. I decided to sleep on it, thinking that I would feel better when I woke up. I didn’t. After I woke up though, Aaron texted me. 

            “Hey man, me and the squad are going to the fries place, wanna come?” I texted back saying yes because what else was I gonna do? Plus I haven’t eaten all day so he had me at “fries.” When I got there, I saw Aaron at a table for six, waiting for everyone else apparently.

            “You came fast,” he said.

            “Yeah well my house is just two blocks from here and I’m starving so don’t judge me,” I replied.

            “You ok man? You look like you just got hit by a bus.”

            “It was a bike actually. And I didn’t get any sleep last night. And I think I’m low-key hallucinating,” I said while he was still laughing about the bike.

            “What do you mean you’re hallucinating?” he said after he was done laughing.

            “I mean I saw them today.”

            “Who’s the-Ooooohhh.” he exclaimed after I gave him a look to remind him.

            “You haven’t talked to them in years right?”

            “Uh huh.”

            “They were the ones who ghosted you right-”

            “Yes.” I cut him off before he stepped on a mine.

            “Ok ok, I was just making sure.”

            “Sorry… I just don’t know why they’re popping up now. I don’t even care about them anymore you know, they left me and so I just moved on. I mean it’s their loss; their lives must be so bad right now without me. Why am I even talking about this right now? I don’t care about them anymore. I am a perfectly normal human being without them.”

            “Dude?”

            “Yeah?”

            “You’re spilling water all over the floor.” That’s when I saw that my shoes were wet after I already filled up my glass to the top with the jug that was on the table.

            “Dang it.”

            “Yep. It definitely sounds like you’re over it,” he said while I was trying to clean up the mess.

            “I know right? I bet that if I saw one of them right now in front of me, I would just be like ‘Who are you?’ ” When I was done, I put my hand on the glass, ready to take a sip.

            Then another ghost literally appeared right in front of me and I crushed the glass out of sheer shock. I felt like I was having a heart attack. It wasn’t Ale or Madi. It was someone else. She smiled at me. I tried to say something but I was choking up.

            “Whoa, whoa, you good man?” asked Aaron. I was anything but good right now. She then started to walk out of the restaurant, wanting me to follow her.

            “Hey Aaron? I uh… I gotta go now.”

            “You just got here like a minute ago.”

            “Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I just uh… forgot something back at my place. I’ll be right back.” I then ran out of the restaurant, not wanting her to get away like the others. But she was already at the entrance to the beach that was a block away from the restaurant. I sprinted towards her as fast as I could, looking like a madman, but she just kept getting farther away. By the time I got to the shore, she wasn’t anywhere anymore.

            “No, no, no, NO! DANG IIIIT!” I shouted in anger, falling to my knees when I was done. But when I looked up, I saw her near the water. I got up and slowly walked towards her but I still kept my distance.

            “Hi,” She said with a smile on her face.

            “Hi.” That was all I could say. You know that feeling you get when everything seems to be at peace? When everything just stands still? When everything just feels right? That was what this moment felt like.

            And I never wanted it to end.

Someone is watching

Expulmonologist. “There Is No Try.” Http://Chimamire.co.vu/Post/76679459497, 14 Feb. 2014, 78.media.tumblr.com/731543a34d945beefab773f4ccd1e415/tumblr_mlkkntfmBU1rwuvuco1_500.gif.

Have you ever had this feeling that you are being watched? Not that you are actually being followed, but everybody is looking at you. Even if they are trying to pretend that they are not. While I was thinking about it I bumped into my friend.


“Hey, sorry I was just in my thoughts.” I apologized helping her to pick up the books that she dropped.


“Don't worry. It's ok. By the way, how was the party yesterday?”


“It was pretty good, but I had to leave early.”


“Yeah I know, hope you are feeling better now"


“I'm fine. Thanks," I answered with a feeling that something is wrong. Wait, but how did she know that I was feeling bad yesterday? I told her nothing about the party. I opened my mouth, but she left before I could ask her anything. Well, somebody else must have told her; not a big deal. However, I wasn't feeling right.


My phone rang. This was my sister.


“Hey, wanted to say your new dress is amazing. Would you mind if I take it for today's night?” she was speaking fast and I think she was hurrying somewhere.


“Sure, you can take it."


With a side of my eye I saw something small, a size of the mosquito, flying around me. I became disturbed by this little thing that kept flying around. I wasn’t listening to what my sister was saying, until I realised something. I had this thought, sitting in the back of my head, which I hadn’t thought of at first.


“But how did you know about the dress?” She is coming back from another city only today. There is no way she would know about it.


“I don't understand you. Well, anyway, I need to go. Thanks again. Love you," she finished the call.


I stood in the middle of the hallway with a phone in my hand and staring just in front of me. The feeling of something is wrong was growing every second. The flying thing I noticed before kept bothering me. I tried to look closer to It, at first I couldn't spot anything. However, a second later, I saw more of them. They are very strange. They look like very small cameras. Millions of very small cameras. They are everywhere.They are flying around. I can feel them touching my skin. I can’t run away from those things. Why does nobody else notice them?


“What are those? What are those mini things?” I asked a group of people. They looked at me, as if I was crazy or weird, but nobody said anything. They just left.


“You’ll get used to them. Everyone does,” sad a black cat, whom I’ve never seen before, while sitting on the locker and playing with a small yellow ball.


“But why don't they see them?”


“They do and they don't. They are looking at them without actually seeing them. You'll soon learn how.”


“But…” before I could finish my question, the cat jumped down and said,“I don't have time, I need to go". I don't know how, but my bad feeling disappeared.


“Bye,” I said and then added “Look for your lost green ball near the gym."


The cat smiled, “Thank you.”

Aging of the Youth, Youth of the Aged

Picture by Jirka Štrébl (my dad) 

My heart beats faster and faster every second, as the anticipation in the air thickens. I’ll be finally going to school
like my older brother that I always admired. My moms and my grandfather said that they came to support me,
but instead of trying to encourage me, they are taking pictures of me from every angle. I nervously look around
in the crowd for any familiar faces to try and escape this never ending shutter. Hearing the phrase “cheese” over
and over again, stacking up to the emmental-nervosa cheese with extra grated anticipation cheese that I had for
breakfast this morning, leaves me feeling nauseous. My mom tries to tell me to stand next to my brother so she
could take the billionth identical shot, but gets interrupted by a loud “Adriaaan!” shouted by my friend to me
from the other end of the crowd. I always liked my middle name better because I shared it with grandpa, so
all my friends called me by it.

The erased marks left on the blackboard and the sharp sound of the bell ringing, marked the end of my first day of school, washing away all the nervousness I felt that whole morning. The worst part of the day was about to start. My family owns a bakery and we always celebrate significant moments by inviting friends and relatives over to have a feast. Although I usually enjoy these family gatherings, and all the different baked goods, I wanted to go to the playground with my friends.

I squeezed my grandpa’s hand and waited for him to meet my eyes. “I know it’s a tradition to celebrate things in our bakery, but I really wanted to go play with my friends.” My grandpa took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off and continued to complain querulously.
“I wish I could be as old as my brother, he never has to come when he doesn’t want to and he doesn’t have to be home by sundown.” My grandpa gave me a genuine smile.
“Austin, don’t” I interrupted him again,
“My name is Adrian.” He looked confused for a second but then continued.
“Right, Adrian, sorry. Don’t rush your youth, enjoy it.  Although things might seem to be unfair to you now, you will come to understand them in time. I spent my whole childhood and adolescence always counting days to a certain event I was looking forward to, and one day I woke up to find out that I’m 80. Yes, being older has its own benefits but so does being young. Your mind knows no limits, and society’s views have not impacted you as much yet so you speak your mind at all times. You know how to have fun without any supplements behind your laughter and everything is new and interesting to you. The things that worry you now, won’t be even things you’ll be thinking about in the future. You don’t even know what I would give to be as young as you are, running in the fields without getting tired, shouting songs from the top of my lungs. To go back to my first love when the feeling of loving someone was so new, completely taking over me making me feel like my head was in the clouds. Don’t waste your youth worrying about aging, because when you’ll be aged you’ll spend it by reliving your youth. ”

I didn’t understand almost any of that at the time, my blank expression probably speaking for itself. I thought that my grandpa was very strange, and forgetting my name also wasn’t something usual, especially since he had the same name as me. He stopped talking, and his eyes shifted back to look at me. His soul returned to his body, drawing the wrinkles under his eyes, on his forehead and around his mouth, and making the shine of fireflies disappear from his eyes. “Come, let’s have some pastries, say hi to the rest of the family and then you can go play with your friends. How does that sound?” I happily nodded and skipped the rest of my way to the bakery.

From that day on, grandpa never called me by my name. He would tell the same stories over and over again, but when it got a little interesting he stopped talking as if he has forgotten what he was talking about. Things were getting worse when he yelled at my mom once because he didn’t know who she was. It didn’t take long for him to not recognize me as well.  

“Adrian Wilson” I froze, reading the name over and over again. The weather forecast said it was supposed to be sunny, but my eyes didn’t seem to stop watering and the world seemed to be desaturated, leaving me in black. I couldn’t bare listening to my relatives saying all those happy stories about him, having the image of him laying in the hospital bed engraved in my mind. Everything that grandpa told me came back to me. I tried to stop the rain from my eyes, meeting his that were frozen in time behind a frame surrounded by flowers. All the words he said before those that seemed to be in a different language or didn’t make sense to me, had a meaning. I went to my moms and hugged them tightly, not wanting to let go.

The next time the name Adrian Wilson will be engraved into stone, I won’t be able to read it.

mACarONs

Editor_J.Kim, Posted By: “3월 20일 마카롱데이 (Macaron Day).” Www.cbmpress.com, 8 Nov. 2017, cbmpress.com/toronto/3%EC%9B%94-20%EC%9D%BC-%EB%A7%88%EC%B9%B4%EB%A1%B1%EB%8D%B0%EC%9D%B4-macaron-day/.

“Hey, did you hear about the new macaron shop across the street?”

“Are you talking about MARS?”

“Oohh yess. Everybody’s talking about it in school.”

“They said the guy working there is hot.”

“Not you, Kev. The owner”

“...”

“Yeahhh. The owner is so young. He’s only like 28”

“You’re 18”

“Speaking of you working there, can you give us a discount?”

“If you say no, I’m not gonna share the study guide with you”

“Heyyy that’s so unfair.”

“Then give us some discount”

“I can't, but i’ll reserve a table”

“Okok. Everybody meet in front of MARS on Saturday at 3”

“You don’t have work that day, right?”

“Nope”

“Oh and BTW are you ok Emy? You looked like you had a fever today”

“I’m fine. I think. Recently, I’m getting these chills easily and I feel so weak”

“That’s why I told you to work out often”

“This is why I don’t want to talk to you guys when I feel sick”

“I’ll be fineee. Just don’t forget your promise Kev”

“Ofc better than failing the test”

x

The four of us - me, Emy, Kevin, and Victoria - have been best friends for 10 years in this small crappy village, where you couldn’t find anything special until recently. A new macaron shop came in this week. It’s being talked about by everyone because the macaron has cute and themed designs that vary with every season and event relevant during the month. Mostly the girls and women like it the most, as the owner of the shop is young and handsome. He’s not really my type, but who cares. He’s better than Kevin. Although, one by one, the children in the village are getting sick. And the symptoms started showing on Emy, too.

The small store has orangish-brownish brick walls with a large LED light saying MARS on the outside. The interior is designed like a bookstore including shelves with macarons on the sides, organized by color, size, and shape. In the middle, there is a table for the Summer Season Edition, and the counter faces the entrance from the back corner.

On the day of our MARS tour, for some reason, Emy didn’t show up on time. Kevin saved a table for us like he promised, and Victoria ordered the Summer Season Edition macarons. While we waited for Emy, we ate the macarons and talked about Kevin’s part-time job. The Summer Season Edition had 12 macarons; 4 macarons of 3 different flavors, “fluffy clouds”, “sunny pepper”, and “cool blue.” We got off topic and ended up talking about the hot owner. Victoria said even the way he spray-cleaned the AC was beautiful. Time passed by quickly and the clock struck 4, yet, Emy was still not here.

“Emyyyyy”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about our MARS tour”

“You just missed the best macarons ever.”

“BTW those were the last Summer Season Edition macarons coming out this year.”

“Yo those were so good”

“Emy you all right?”

~~~

“I’m so sorry guys. I don’t know why, but I think I got a cold”

“Like a really bad one”

“I can’t stop coughing and it’s hard to breathe”

“Whoa why?”

“Weren’t you fine 2 days ago?”

“Oh nooo. Did you go to the hospital?”

“I’m going tomorrow, but if I don’t get better, I’ll probably skip school this week”

“I hope you get well soon”

“Feel better!”

“We’ll come visit you on Monday.”

“Thanks guys, but don’t come. My mom said it might be contagious. My neighbor also felt the same as me, and she’s in the hospital now.”

“Don’t worry. We’re sure everything’s going to be fine”

“Aww thankssss <3”

While worrying about Emy, the three of us headed towards my house to watch the new movie Starfish. Kevin took the very last Summer Season Edition for Emy, and Victoria and I bought some candles and a get well card. I told my mom about what happened to Emy and turned on the T.V. Kevin was busy packaging the macarons, Victoria was writing the card, and I went to the bathroom. We were all so focused on what we were doing, not a single person heard the breaking news.

AC Disinfectants Causing Sepsis In Children

“Hey Kev, can you turn on the AC? It’s getting hot.”