"First Love " by Jeremiah C

            For a moment, a boy with no real thought laid eyes upon a girl and his world had changed forever. He knew little of what or who this girl was. One thing was certain, she was admirable and had a kind heart. For a child such as himself he was considered mature and well-versed in overall understanding of how the world works compared to the other children. While the girl was much like him as well.

Their daily agenda consisted of reading books, doing simple math problems, and playing on the playground during recess. For the other children it seemed like the usual day of playing  with friends and socializing but for the boy it was a time to spend observing the girl he “admired”. When they talked to each other it looked as if they were the only two in the whole entire world. Everyone knew that they boy admired her, but no one knew of how she thought of him.

The boy never knew how to describe the emotion he carried whenever he saw her, it was unexplainable. Time would slow down and eventually the world would stop. It was such an innocent admiration.

 Every time he saw her in class, he would write multiple notes that read “I love you”, although he himself did not know what the true meaning of what love is. It even progressed further where he pronounced his love to her by saying “I like you.” The other children were shocked and confused because they had little idea of what it meant to “like” or “like-like” someone. Although he kept persisting, she never gave him a real answer or response to what he was saying.

They were the polar opposites of each other. The girl was mysterious and calm while the boy was very outspoken and playful. It was a very rare sight to see these two together and at times it was a little awkward.

(I, however admired his bravery to be able to confess his feelings flamboyantly to the girl he liked.)

After a couple of weeks of these notes and googly eyes towards her, something had to change. So a group of the other children gathered together in order to find a way to resist the boy’s advances on the girl. They tried to think of many different things and because of the fact that they were mere children and had no real understanding of what the world is like they didn’t come up with any elaborate plans.

After much discussion they finally decided to have the girl say that she likes another guy, which happens to be the most unattractive guy in the class, in order to break the boy’s heart. Given the fragility of the boy, he did fall under the plan and he broke down. 

For the next few days the boy was silent and didn’t continue his advances on the girl. The other children felt bad for what they did to him. However, the next few days he seemed even more depressed and not his usual self, however he still talked and hung out with his usual friends.

The boy started to show up to school every other day now. Eventually he didn’t show up for a couple of weeks at a time. Finally, the inconsistency stopped and he never came back. His classmates were shocked and felt the guilt in their hearts. The teacher never said anything about the boy’s sudden disappearance. It was all a mystery. There was no farewells or goodbyes, but just a missing student.

His close friends were quiet for a couple of days, but the rest seemed to move on after a good hour after because they were relieved of his messages for the girl and his statements of “I like you”. As for the girl, no one really knew how she felt about the boy’s sudden disappearance. The only evidence that was found was a stack of notes that were stuck between her binder and the plastic cover and on top was what seemed like a final note that read “ Thank you and goodbye”. 

The End.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilogue

A few years later after he stopped showing up, one of his classmates saw him going to a different school. He ran up to him and greeted him excitedly. They caught up on old times, reminiscing the times they played and laughed together.

Finally they talked about around the time the boy left. It was revealed that he felt depressed because his parents told him that they were moving. The classmate felt relieved because for all this time, the group that plotted against him felt guilty for what they had done. The boy said to the classmate, “It’s ok, first love’s never go how you want it to.”

You're in Luck! New Writers are Here!

Remember to read all of the selections for this month --   comments are for this latest group only (no earlier months/submissions, or last year's submissions)

Remember:
All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group  (March writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least three different pieces of writing.  You must post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your comments, complete with dates and times, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by April 5.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"How-to make Vegan Cauliflower Wings" by Mariah T

I know that since I am a vegetarian I get a lot of questions like “what do I eat?” do “I miss meat” and a whole other abundance of questions that would probably feel up a book. So what I decided is that I am going to take a very popular food that my friends enjoy, AKA wings and just give you my non-meat version of it! I know this could also be helpful for those who are participating in no meat Fridays, people who want to be vegetarian but would like to try a meal to get a taste for it, or just for fun to try to make it. Before I start with my tips, a small disclaimer is I suck at cooking but this is what works for me and what I enjoy! 

STEP 1- Is you want to head over to the store and get some cauliflower, as well as the other
recipes if you aren’t sure what they look like this:
STEP 2- Is then making sure you preheat your oven to 450
STEP 3- Is you want to break the head of cauliflower into florets, so it’s about 11⁄2-inch.
STEP 4- Getting a large mixing bowl, add the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and almond milk(this is what I drink, but feel free to add whatever milk you drink!), and stir until well-combined
STEP 5- Is dipping the cauliflower florets into the sauce you just mixed
STEP 6- Is after coating your cauliflower put in the pan and put it in the oven, do ten minutes one side and then take out to flip then put back for another 10 minutes for a total of 20 minutes.
STEP 7- Is while that is baking, get a small mixing bowl and put hot sauce, vegetable oil and stir till everything is mixed.
STEP 8- Is after the cauliflower is done baking, put what you just mixed onto the cauliflower and put back in the oven for another 20 minutes.
Step nine is ENJOY!! You can add more hot sauce or ranch or anything really. Hope you all enjoy if you do decide to try this out!

"How to Make the Easiest & Tastiest Peanut Butter Cookies" by Megan R

Whenever I need to bring a dish for a potluck, family event, party, etc. this recipe is my go to. It is definitely a favorite of all my friends and family and is highly requested by everyone. My great grandma passed this recipe onto my grandma,who then passed this recipe onto my mom,who then passed it onto me. It is the simplest recipe, when you see how many ingredients it takes you will be sure to think I am kidding! It only takes four ingredients to make these delicious cookies and each ingredient can typically be found in either your pantry or fridge, which is why this recipe is perfect for any last minute baking needs. There is not even a need for flour or vegetable oil! It is perfect for those of you who are on gluten-free and dairy-free diets as well! It is also perfect for a family baking session, as kids will be able to follow along very easily. After you have made them once, the recipe will most likely be forever in your memory. In less time than it takes for the oven to preheat, you will have these cookies ready and waiting to be baked. This recipe tends to make around 20 cookies, but can easily be doubled or even tripled if there is a need to make more. I hope you will try these cookies out for yourself and see just how tasty they are, and please be sure to pass it on to your friends and family too!

(Preparation and baking time around 25 minutes).

Materials:

1. A mixing bowl
   
2. A mixer or wooden spoon
   
3. A baking sheet
   
4. Measuring Cups
   
5. Parchment paper or foil
   
6. A fork
   

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of creamy peanut butter (I’ve found commercial brands work best)
   
2. 1 large egg
   
3. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
   
4. 1 cup sugar
   
5. Hershey Kisses (optional)
   

Directions:

1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. Next, in the mixing bowl add together the 1 cup peanut butter, the 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, and
   the teaspoon of vanilla, using your measuring cups.
   
3. Mix all of the ingredients together with the mixer or wooden spoon until the mixture is
   dough like. The dough tends to be grainy and thick from the peanut butter and sugar. If
   you feel as though your mixture is too thick however, just add water a teaspoon at a time.
   
4. Now, take the baking sheet and line the entire sheet with either parchment paper or foil in
   order to prevent the cookies from sticking to your pan and creating a mess.
   

5. Use your hands to roll together tiny balls of dough and place them onto the baking sheet. Depending on the size of your baking sheet, there should be around 9-12 balls. Each ball should be no bigger than the size of a ping pong ball. Evenly place each ball 1 inch apart from each other. (Don’t worry, because of the high fat content of the peanut butter, the balls can be shaped in no time without even sticking to your hands!)
   
6. To make the cookies look even more appealing, I tend to take the back of a fork and place the fork down onto the cookie dough balls twice, once in one direction and then again in the opposite direction, forming a hashtag like shape in the cookie and flattening each cookie a little bit. Dipping the fork into some sugar before pressing the cookies will help with the sticking of the fork to the dough and will add a little extra flavor to each one.
   
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown. Be careful when checking on your cookies.They tend to not look too cooked at first, but once they are pulled out of the oven to cool down, they will continue to cook on the hot cookie sheet.
   
8. Let cool for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Let the cookies sit for at least 10 minutes before attempting to eat, or else you will be sure to end up with the crumbs of a bunch of broken cookies.
   
9. The finished cookies should be chewy and dense, and not at all crunchy.
   
10. For a little extra flavor, you can also add one Hershey Kiss onto the top of each cookie, or
    even any topping you would like to make this recipe your own!
    

"How -to babysit young children" by Brittney B

As an auntie to two- two year olds i have learned a few tips and tricks that i'm going to share with all of you when you have to babysit your little monster. In no way am I saying babysitting is easy because i've experienced the tantrums, hair pulling, and screaming but i've noticed that these few tricks help me tame the little ones for longer.

1. First things first, always make sure the monster is fed. Babysitting a full child is way easier than babysitting a hungry kid. When they are full they become more lazy and are way less cranky then when their tummy is grumbling.

2. Next, toys,toys,toys. Always make sure they are entertained! Remember children's attention span is even worse than high school students. Therefore keep it moving at all times! Whether it's watching tv to playing barbies always keep them moving and playing. This will also help at bedtime because they will feel satisfied and tired.

3. Another trick is to keep them eating or drinking. Giving them juice or a little snack here and there will cause them to feel less hungry for longer. This also reduces the amount of crying and whining because they cant cry and chew at the same time!

4. If you're experiencing the dreadful tantrum then always try a distraction! A good distraction is to go to the park or maybe try arts and crafts, anything that keeps them distracted is good.

5. If you want to make bedtime a little bit easier than heavier physical activities like playing a sport or going to the park is a perfect way to tire out your little one out and make them ready for bed!

6.  Finally, never mention the B word. When young children hear the word BEDTIME it's like hearing they have to write a five page essay or miss their favorite show. This horrific word will only result in attitude and crying. Instead just lay down with them and watch some tv or read them a story this is much better than trying to force bedtime upon them.

I hope these tricks help you because I know how challenging babysitting the little ones can be and when you start to getting irritated just look at their cute tiny faces!

 Brixton Isaiah Berglund

" How to Make Pav Bhaji" by Shayan K

 

The first thing you’re probably thinking after reading the title is, “What in the world is Pav Bhaji?” “Pav” just refers to the bread, and “bhaji” refers to the vegetables that are cooked with spice. Trust me, I know, those are two very funny words that you have probably never even heard of. Although those two words literally translate to, bread and vegetables, it is way more delicious and appealing than what it seems like. Pav Bhaji is a very famous street food in India. I clearly remember seeing people in little carts selling this dish on almost every street when I visited India for the second time. The great thing about Pav Bhaji is that it is a vegetarian dish, which means a larger amount of people are able to appreciate this dish and not be restricted by any strict diets. In addition, you can’t really feel guilty by eating this dish because like I said earlier, it’s literally spiced vegetables and bread.

Well let me go ahead and tell you that this is one of my most favorite Indian dishes out there. I am always astonished over the fact that you can create such an amazing dish by only using these very simple ingredients that are readily available. The first time I had pav bhaji is when I was about 7 or 8, and my grandmother had made it for the family. I was so opposed to trying it at first. It reminded me of those mysterious school lunches that we always saw on television that everyone hated. But after some time, she finally convinced me to try and I instantly fell in love. So I am here to share this amazing recipe with you guys as well! It is so easy!

Ingredients:

●      2 tablespoon of Butter

●     3 or 4 finely chopped tomatoes

●     ½ cup of peas

●     1 finely chopped capsicum (also called a bell pepper)

●     3 boiled and mashed potatoes

●     1 teaspoon salt

●     1 cup water

●     1 tablespoon chili powder

●     ¼ teaspoon turmeric

●     3 tablespoons of finely chopped coriander

●     1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

●     1 finely chopped red onion

●     Half a lemon

●     Dinner rolls or sliced bread

Directions for Bhaji (spiced vegetables):

1.    Place a saucepan on stove on medium heat.

2.   Place 1 tbsp butter, the chopped tomatoes, peas, bell peppers, and potatoes into the pan.

a.    Make sure to slowly place the ingredients on the pan.

3.   Next, add a half cup of water, cover the saucepan, and let it boil for about ten minutes.

a.    *Pro tip!!!* Periodically stir the contents!

4.   After the ten minutes have passed, mash all of the ingredients together.

a.    You can stop mashing once it reaches a smooth texture.

5.   Now you will add chili powder, turmeric, and coriander.

a.    Let this sauté for about 2-3 minutes.

6.   Place another tablespoon of butter, your ginger-garlic paste, the finely chopped onions, and squeeze your lemon into the pan.

a.    Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

b.   Also, this is where you can add your optional three drops of red food coloring (this gives it that traditional street food look, similar to what you would find in India).

7.   After adding another half cup of water, boil and mash the contents for another five minutes.

8.   Your Bhaji is now complete!

Directions for Pav:

1.        Place a griddle or a normal pan on medium-high heat.

2.   Cut your dinner rolls in half and spread butter on the inside.

a.    If you don’t have rolls, you can also use normal sliced bread!

3.   Place the butter coated bread on the griddle until it is toasted.

4.   Your Pav is now complete!

Now that is all it takes to make authentic Pav Bhaji! The proper way to eat this delicious meal is to dip your toasted bread into the Bhaji and eat it like that! Personally, I tear pieces of the bread into the bowl and eat it with a spoon, but it is totally up to you on how you want to enjoy this delicious dish from India. I really hope you enjoy this dish as it is one of my favorite things to eat!

“Unexpectedly” by Janae S

            February 18, 2018, the day of excitement and anxiousness turns into a day of sorrow. I woke up early on this particular Sunday. I had a college audition at the University of California Los Angeles. This day was going to be nerve- wrecking, but exciting all at once. I got everything I needed for the audition and left. My mother drove me to Los Angeles. The audition consisted of an information session about University of California Los Angeles’ theater program, learning a choreographed musical style dance, performing two monologues, singing two songs, and an interview. This lasted for about four long hours. Once the audition was done, I was finally able to go home and rest up. Until tragedy had struck.

            On the way home, my mother got a call from one of her brothers, who is one of my uncles. I was listening to music with it blasting from my earphones into my eardrums, so I was unable to hear the conversation that was going on. My mother has her phone connected to the car, so she does not have to have her phone in her hand while driving. I paused my music when I noticed my mother’s face. She was in shock. When she got off the phone, my mother decided to tell me the news at that moment, so I would not find out in a hard way. One of my cousins, who I grew up with and was very close to, has passed away.

            Denial had come first. I told my mother not to say that because I did not want to believe it. She said my cousin had a seizure. I wanted to start crying, but because my mother was still driving, and for the sake of her to also not to start to cry, I held it in. We went to his house, but the closer we got, the more I wanted to scream out. The police was there, and so was my aunt, his mother. I stayed in the car, while my mother went to go and comfort her sister. I could not bear going inside the house. Once alone, I broke down. I could not help it. This was the first time losing someone that was so close to me. We were at the house until midnight. Then, we allowed ourselves to go home and at least, try to get some sleep. Sleeping that night was difficult for me. In the morning, I did not want to get out of the bed, but I forced myself to. When I did, I would stop and look at the few pictures of my cousin that we have around our house.

            My family told each other that we would all get through this together. When time for the funeral came two weeks later, we all had to emotionally prepare ourselves. The funeral was packed with his friends and extended family. His friends and colleagues talked about how they appreciated him and looked up to him… literally (he was taller than six feet and seven inches!) Hearing all the wonderful comments people had to say about my cousin brought happiness to my heart. Upon taking a glance at everyone who attended, I was able to see my father, along with two aunts, an uncle, and two cousins all from my father’s side of the family. I was ecstatic to see that they came to the funeral.

            My cousin’s death taught me that I need to appreciate more, the people who are in my life because I never know when they will unexpectedly leave. My family’s religious faith is what we looked to when trying to think of positive thoughts. We know he is looking after us, and that he cares. We know that he is happy. Whenever I see a picture of him or hear his name, I am reminded of all the precious moments we have had together. I will think of the last time I had seen him at a family gathering. I will think of all the times we would laugh about the most ridiculous subjects. I remember every time we see each other, he would greet me by saying “hi cousin”. I remember how much of a picky eater he was. I remember when going to his college graduation and how my cousin had to bend down to get the medal he was awarded around his neck because he was taller than his professors. I will always have memories of him to look back on.

"Deceived " by Sophia P

            Amy woke up feeling disoriented not knowing where she is, she stood up with a perplexed look upon her face and she started examining the room. The room was occupied with a vast amount of windows, green plants cemented in white pots, modern furniture, and abstract paintings. Amy slowly muttered, “Where am I?” while admiring a gold and white abstract painting. At a slow pace, she started receiving vague memories of her family and herself bonding in this room. Amy decided to make breakfast for herself in the small kitchen near the entrance door way, she left her phone on the vanity table, and started walking to the kitchen. For breakfast she made scrambled eggs and poured a glass of milk for herself. Amy realized she left her phone on the vanity table. When Amy went to grab her phone, she noticed her phone was not there. Amy sensed someone is in the room with her. She walked around slowly, trembling with fear and beginning to sweat. Amy noticed a body-like shape on the bed, under the blankets. She slowly lifted the blankets and saw her sister asleep. Amy released her breath in relief. She woke her sister up and exclaimed, “Eva, you scared me!” Eva sat on the bed without blinking and no expression on her face. Amy tried to converse with her sister, Eva; unfortunately, she could not get a reaction out of her. The doorbell rang; Amy went to go open the door, when Amy opened the door her sister was standing right by the door. Amy nervously said, “Oh hi, Eva” Amy was confused because she just talked to Eva in the bedroom, then Eva said, “Amy! I missed you so much turn the T.V. on, let’s watch our show!” Amy replied in a low, scared tone, “ok, ya sure” Amy walked near the bedroom and she peaked in to see if the other Eva was still occupying the room, and she still was. Amy walked back to the living room not knowing who her actual sister is. She decided to find out by observing their body language and the way they speak. Amy thought, “Eva is usually cheerful, sarcastic and very reactive, I’ll put that to a test”. Amy walked over to Eva in the living room, Amy whispered, “Eva come here I want to show you something.” Eva replied loudly saying, “What?” Amy whispered again, “Be quiet, just follow me” Eva curiously asked, “Why? What are you going to show me?” Amy said, “Come on, you’ll have to see it for yourself” Amy walked in the bedroom followed by Eva. Amy whispered, “Look” while pointing on the bed. Eva gasped in shock and said, “Oh my God! She looks exactly like me!” Eva started seeing specs of black dots everywhere then she collapsed on the floor passing out. Amy watched the other Eva sitting on the bed suspiciously. When Eva glanced down on the floor noticing the other Eva is laying on the floor unconscious, she slowly started smiling. Amy realized the Eva on the bed is a doppelganger and the one laying on the floor is truly her sister. Amy turned her fear into anger and she grabbed a baseball bat off the floor and started running towards the bed filled with rage and she jumped on Eva’s doppelganger and started beating her up with the baseball bat. While Amy was trying to hurt Eva’s doppelganger, the doppelganger smiled maliciously and disappeared in midair as if it felt no pain. Amy quickly ran to her actual sister and she woke her up by shaking her. All of a sudden, furniture started disappearing. Amy exclaimed, “This can’t be real, this can’t be real, this is definitely a dream!” Amy woke up in bed dripping in cold sweat, she felt like a presence was near her. When Amy turned to her side she saw a black shadow rise up to the ceiling and disappear. Amy was afraid to go back to sleep.

“How To Drive” by Meila P

Sixteens the big year that everyone looks forward to because it’s the year they could legally get their license. Having the ability to drive is the ticket freedom and not having to ask your parents to take you any where or constantly ask someone to pick you up. The ability to drive is having the right to never call shotgun and annoy everyone else in the car. Yes, mostly everyone reading this has their license and have a few years of experience, but some people still don’t know the fundamentals of driving, including me, so I wrote this how to help all of us and make the streets safer. Enjoy!

What ● ● ●
What 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

you need to drive:
A car with working blinkers, brake lights, working brake (4 door/2 door your preference) A license
Mirrors aligned right so you can see everything
To Do:
When you get in the car, remember to put your seatbelt on
Check your mirrors, your rear view mirrors, or if you have a camera, make sure it’s clear Put your gas on the break and turn on your engine.
Make sure your parking brake is off.
Put your gear into drive and slowly drive off checking all surroundings.

How to drive in traffic

• ●  Stay in your lane
  
• ●  If you’re in front of a car do not drive slow if everyone else around you is driving at the
  same speed limit
  
• ●  If you are going to turn, use your blinker so the driver knows if they can go or not
  
• ●  If you are driving faster than the driver in front of you, go around them, don’t tailgate
  them or else they may go even slower, just proceed to go around them
  
• ●  If you want to switch lanes turn on your blinker and proceed once available, people
  aren’t going to let you go if they don’t know you want to switch lanes
  
• ●  If someone has been wanting to merge onto a lane, drive faster or let them go, do not go
  the same speed as them
  
• ●  If someone is letting you merge then merge and not let them wait any longer than they
  have to
  
• ●  Honk when needed, if someone is cutting you off, not going when they’re supposed to
  then go ahead
  
• ●  If someone’s telling you to go in a four way stop, don’t tell them to go back, just go
  
• ●  DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE
  
• ●  Look when you are backing out, if no ones there then back out
  
• ●  Make sure when you turn you don’t go over a curb
  
• ●  Turn on your headlights when needed
  
• ●  If the lights been yellow for a long time don’t go
  

I know, I’m not a perfect driver but every time I drive there’s always people that don’t know what they’re doing. I really enjoy driving and I do it for fun sometimes, and for me personally, I’m always the one to pick everyone up and I just want them, and myself, to get there safely. If everyone would just learn how to drive the right way, I believe the rate of accidents will decrease immensely.

" How to Take Care of a Dog with Megaesophagus" by Megan J

Megaesophagus is a relatively common condition found in dogs, and in some cases, cats and humans. With this condition, the esophagus is enlarged and cannot function as it is supposed to in transporting food and liquid to the stomach. As a result, the food and liquid ingested is often regurgitated. Some dogs may grow out of it, but as of right now there is not a surgical fix or cure. If not dealt with properly, the condition can be fatal. The only reason why I would ever know any of this is that one of my dogs, Cooper, was born with megaesophagus. He is a playful, sweet, stubborn, 7 month old German Shepherd. However, he has a tendency to make life just a little harder in my house- but it’s all worth it. If you ever find yourself with a dog that has megaesophagus, these steps and tips should help.

Supplies:

●      Dog/puppy

●      1 enlarged esophagus

●      A good veterinarian

●      Bailey chair

●      Baby wipes

●      Blender

●      High calorie dog food

●      Slippery elm

●      Water dispenser that is light and easy to move

●      Paper towels

●      Floor cleaner (carpet, tile, etc.)

●      Couch covers

●      Spot cleaner

Step 1: Finding out your dog has megaesophagus

Megaesophagus can be congenital or develop over time, so even adult dogs can develop it. My family discovered that Cooper had megaesophagus when we took him to the vet because he had been throwing up excessively every time he ate or drank water. It is vital to catch megaesophagus quickly; if the dog is just regurgitating all of its food and water, it is not receiving the nutrition and hydration it needs to live. Some signs and symptoms include vomiting, coughing, weight loss, poor growth, and an increase in respiratory noise (heavy breathing). If your dog shows any of these signs, it is a good idea to take them to a vet as soon as possible. At the vet, a physical examination will be performed and the vet will try to rule out all other illnesses and diseases that involve vomiting.

Step 2: Figuring out what diet is best for your dog

With megaesophagus, your dog will not be able to eat ordinary dog food; it will have to be soft and usually blended. First, you must find an amount of food that is suitable for your dog. For Cooper, my family tried different amounts until we found what was best for him. If there is too much food, your dog will regurgitate it almost immediately after he is done eating. Cooper has 150 grams of high calorie dog food, which is blended into a powder, twice a day. When one cup of warm water and slippery elm (an herb that helps with digestion) are added, it forms a slurry. This is easy for him to eat and he loves it.

Step 3: Feeding

Typically, feeding a dog is easy. A dog with megaesophagus, on the other hand, is not so much. In order to make sure their food is able to move from the esophagus to the stomach, the dog has to eat in an upright position. If they do not, the food will get stuck in the esophagus and will get regurgitated. To solve this issue, my family got a Bailey chair, which is essentially a high-chair for dogs with megaesophagus and other similar conditions. Cooper eats his food in the Bailey chair and has to stay in the upright position for twenty minutes so his food can move to his stomach. If you have a puppy that is light, you can hold them in the upright position for twenty minutes. Once the twenty minutes are up, make sure all other dog food bowls are off the ground, or else your dog may try to eat it.

Step 4: Cleaning up after your dog

I’ve learned the very hard way that having a dog with megaesophagus is very messy. Almost every morning, I come downstairs to find that Cooper has thrown up at least once. If this happens with your dog, grab a few paper towels or cloth towels (remember to wash them, or else they will not smell very pleasant). Once picked up, get a good floor cleaner or all purpose cleaner (Odoban works well) and spray it in the area. Then, wipe the floor with a paper towel. If the dog regurgitates on carpet, it is important to have a carpet cleaner. Use a wet cloth to clean up the vomit, then use the carpet cleaner on the area. My dogs sleep on our couches, so we have couch covers that protect them from Cooper. If he throws up on the couch cover, we first use a Bissell spot cleaner and then simply throw them in the washer and dryer.

Step 5: Keeping your dog healthy

            It is of utmost importance that you make sure your dog stays a healthy weight. You should regularly weigh your dog to see if they are a suitable weight for their age and breed. At night, remove any water dispensers or bowls from their reach. This is very important because if your dog drinks too much water or regurgitates excessively, they can inhale it and develop aspiration pneumonia. If there is an increase in regurgitation, coughing, or difficulty breathing, go to a vet immediately. Occasional trips to the vet are necessary when your dog has megaesophagus, just to ensure that your dog is healthy.

Cooper and I wish you the best of luck if you ever have a dog that has megaesophagus!

"The Flight" by Eliu J.

The pilot welcomed everyone that was boarding the plane.
“Welcome aboard”
It was a normal day. Good flying weather and a nice and easy flight from Los Angeles International Airport to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport... at least that’s what the pilot thought.
The passengers boarded and took their seats. The sound of the engines warming up in the background. The clicking of people closing the overhead bins. All was calm, possibly too calm.
Once everyone boarded, the flight attendant began their routine safety announcements and demonstrations. “Ladies & Gentlemen! The safety instruction card is in the pocket of the seat in front of you. It shows you the equipment carried on this aircraft for your safety. A life jacket is in the pocket under your seat. To put it on, place it over your head. Clip on the waistband and pull it tight. An evacuation slide and life raft is at each door. Additional emergency exits are shown on the leaflet. In case of emergency, oxygen masks will drop down in front of you. Please pull the mask down toward your face and place the mask over your mouth and nose. If you are traveling with a child, please attend to yourself first, then the child. Breathe normally, adjust the headband to suit yourself.”
The attendants walked down the aisles and checked everyone’s seatbelts. The plane began to back out and rolled towards the runway. It got to the end of the runway and began its acceleration, pushing the passengers back into their seats. The plane lifted off the ground and made its way towards the Chicago Airport. After 30 minutes, the plane reached its peak and the people were free to unbuckle their seatbelts and use the restroom. Everything was normal.. for now. Chatter was heard throughout the plane. There a faint sound of a baby crying in the distance, it seemed so far away. All of a sudden the plane jerked and all the people fell quiet. Another jerk. Everyone sat in silence and waited for the flight crew to give their word. A few seconds passed by and finally the pilot turned on the seatbelt light and the flight crew said through the intercom “Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. There is some slight turbulence. Please take your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you.” The plane suddenly dropped for some feet. Everyone began to look around in panic. This was for sure not something normal. There was a loud crack and a baby began to cry. Could it be a thunderstorm? The passengers looked outside to see if there was anything abnormal, but nothing could be seen due to the thick clouds. A younger passenger, between the age of 8 and 10 kept staring out the window, trying to see if there was anything wrong with the plane wing. There was a sudden opening in the cloud and he was able to see a dark gash on the wing. What could possibly make that big of a laceration?
Another dip. This time it lasted a lot longer and lifted people off of their seats. There was more chattering, this time of panic and nervousness. Suddenly the plane jerked horizontally, as if something were pulling it to the side. Nothing seemed to move, there was no noise other than the plane engines. It was too calm. Something bad was bound to happen. Minutes passed and nothing happened, people began to relax and believe that everything was good. All of a sudden the plane dropped once again, almost completely vertically. Screams were heard and the oxygen masks dropped from the compartments above. The lights throughout were flickering and everything was shifting downwards. A teenager that wasn’t wearing his seatbelt gripped onto the front seat as hard as possible. The plane evened out a bit but was still falling, the clouds were no longer blocking the visibility but the ground, a patch of green, got increasingly bigger by the second. The pilot warned the people of an emergency crash landing. Everyone gasped and prepared for the crash. Everything went black and only a ringing in the ear could be heard. Some people finally came to their senses and looked around, helping those that seemed injured or those that needed help taking off their jammed seat belts. A mother, was desperately looking for her son, who was nowhere

in sight. She walked up and down the aisle screaming her sons name. Where could he possibly be? Was he dead? Nothing. People wandered outside and looked around, stranded on a foreign land. How was this possible? What seemed like a regular flight took a turn and now was a case of survival on a foreign land.

"Saturday, the fourth of June two thousand sixteen " by Bonnie R

We were all exatic with the great news we did not expect. It was all so overwhelming and surprising but we all knew it was a blessing and it was going to change all of our lives.I have been praying for this happen for the family and it was a miracle. Just like that when I heard the news I started to plan it all in my head, the colors, the theme, the food, the location, etc. My mom and I would go to target and start buying some things she would need and it was all alluring to be able to experience the excitement with my mom. I began to start speaking to my parent’s friends to see if we could throw my mom a surprise party for this blessing. They were all as excited as we were and wanted to help out as much as possible. A few weeks passed and everything was going good, just as expected. When all of a sudden my mom on a Friday was not feeling so well and she felt like something was just not right. She told us and we just all started to research and it said to not be alarmed and that it wasn’t anything bad. That calmed down my mom so she could sleep but as she woke up that Saturday morning she told my dad that she knew something was wrong and was very nervous. Since she felt like that we decided to take her to the emergency room. I honestly felt like it wasn't necessary because I thought everything was okay and we were just overreacting. “It was a great sunny day to be stuck in a hospital when nothing is wrong” I thought. We all had to wait patiently because it was extremely packed, finally after hours, they called her in. Just like that we were all anxious and praying everything was okay. She finally came out and she told us that the nurse told her “I can not tell you anything until the doctor is present, I apologize.” With my little knowledge of watching Greys anatomy I knew deep down in my heart that something was actually wrong but I told my parents to not worry but I had to go out for a walk. I had faith that God was going to take control of everything. A few hours later they called her in again. My family was silent at this time anxious to know what was occurring and just like that we saw my mom with so many tears in her eyes. We all shared the pain with her and couldn’t believe what was happening, wondering why this would happen to us. My mom felt very guilty and she needed a lot of love from everyone of us. It was very hard for every single one of us. I know that it was tough to move on but I pray ……

My baby sister/brother may be having a great time in heaven

"One Of My Forever Time Hero’s" by Mekka J

     Growing up I was always a daddy's girl at heart. There was nothing that could
separate me from my dad. Not even the video games on PlayStation 3. I remember the nights he would leave to work and I would just break down crying. I thought my world was ending until he got back home that night and would say hello. My dad is a hero in my eyes not because he had mysterious magic tricks, but because of his love for my siblings and I. He was always steadfast and would be our savior when we got into trouble with our mom. Like the time I got into trouble by my mom and I ran from her as she chased me down the hall with her belt. I jumped in my dads bed and threw the cover over my body shouting “daddy save me!” 

My dad had always been a significant person in my life. He is the reason I push harder in class, on the track field, at work, and in any other thing that I get into. Yeah I mean he was tough on all four of us growing up but that was because he wanted better from us. He envisioned us going off to college and being successful unlike the rest of my family. I remember in the fourth grade I had received an award for “Perfect attendance” and he looked so displeased he said “i’m tired of yall getting these perfect attendance awards get something else like the other kids.” From that day on I worked super hard in the classroom because I wanted to shut him up; being the little brat that I am, I did. When I got the award that said most excelled student alongside three other awards my dad was so proud of me he even brought his video recorder. 

My most fondest memory of my dad was when I had turned 12 he took my siblings and I to Raging Waters for the very first. There was this ride called Drop Out and after reaching the top I didn’t want to get on. Of course my dad was the first one to go on the ride but he came back to the top because I had held up a line and refused to go on. At that moment my dad became my hero, he influenced me to go on the ride. I still remember his voice and the exact words he said to me. “Come on baby were all cheering for you, you can do it, you got this baby,” those were the most influential words my dad had ever spoken to me, and I will never forget them. 

Just at the short age of 12, my dad was taken away from me due to and endless act of racism. He had done nothing wrong, but walk in his skin that God had blessed him with. The day I found out that my dad was no longer, I was numb. I began to shut everyone out and turn away from everything, including school. I began to invest my time into things that made me feel most connected to him, such as basketball, and I would play Call of Duty World at War every day just shooting people up. I had so much hatred towards the world for about a good year or two. Every year as October 13th makes another year, my life becomes harder. This year has been one of the most challenging years for me because I am battling his absence and me growing up. I try to make the

most out of everything for him. I submitted some college applications on his anniversary and made it a positive act, but life is not easy for me now that he is gone. He will never get to call me his “Chocolate Baby” again, and he will NEVER get to walk me down the aisle. Each day I tell people goodby and depart from them with a hug or smile, because you never know when your last time will be. I remember the last time I gave him a kiss goodbye as I watched his car drive away from my house. I will forever remember you dad, until we meet again at the Golden Gate
~Love Your First Chocolate Baby.