The Magic Lamp

I walk through the snow, the wind blowing all around me. I carry my sled in my hand and a smile on my face. The hill is steep and rocky and when I get to the top I am panting, my breath coming out in great white clouds. I lie on my belly, the sled under me. I kick off and begin to slide. The world is flying past me. I race past rocks great and small. I slow down and finally stop.

As I prepare to climb back up the hill something catches my eye. I walk in its direction, the snow falling heavily. I stop five feet from the mysterious object and stare in wonderment as I realize what it is. There, quite out of place in this cold gray world, is a golden lamp. There it lay, completely untouched by the snow. It draws me closer. I take a step towards it. Intricate designs wind their way across its surface: pictures of people, places, beings and monsters now long, long gone. I cover the distance between us and slowly pick up the lamp.

Then, erupting from within, comes forth a genie. He stands before me, tall and majestic. His skin is as dark as the midnight sky, a gold turban on his head. His great legs are covered by pants of purple, blue, and maroon. Although his chest is bare he shows no sign of chill. His deep-set eyes twinkle like stars. He seems untouched by time or weather. In a deep musical voice that makes the earth tremble he says to me, "I am a genie. Three wishes will I grant unto you. No more, no less." Seeing that I remain silent he inquires, "Why do you hesitate? I can grant any wish, simply tell me what you desire.” Finding that I still say nothing he sits down on a large stone and watches me with a searching eye.

Speaking to myself I thoughtfully say, " I wish for many things: I wish that I had wings to fly as far and as high as I please. I wish that my friend would love his father. I wish that his sister did not feel so alone and so burdened. I wish that my father was not cursed with thoughts, feelings and emotions that he has almost no control over. I wish all people were considered equal, no matter their race or gender." I sigh mournfully. "I wish I could forgive my uncle. But that is far more than three wishes, and I know that they are not meant to be. My friend must learn to love, and I must learn to forgive. A loved one can not suddenly become free of all burdens. People like me need to listen to them and do what we can to help, only then can they be free.” To the genie I say, “The things that truly matter are the things you can not give me."

After a few more moments of reflection I tell the genie, "I wish for you to go home and be free, but I request that you travel and teach others the same lesson that you have taught me." The broad smile on the genie's face vanishes quickly from my sight but the warm and hearty sound of his laugh and the comfort I feel lasts much, much longer.

Luthlian

Reccomendation- O'Malley Series

The O'Malley series.
The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson, is about 7 siblings, who are legal brothers and sisters. They each have very interesting jobs(i.e. firefighter, federal marshall,hostage negotiator), and the 6 books go through each sibling, starting with Kate. Each book has a seperate mystery, and although the bad guy is definently bad, they are not evil or ic. In each book, they do meet and eventually marry, but nothing immoral or wrong ever happens between them. I would strongly recommend this series to any boy and .

-Sharkies

Just a Good Ol' Story

This is a re-telling of a story my teacher told me many years ago. I changed it a bit here and there, but it still has the same main point.

The sun rose above the hills, casting a -red blanket over the town. It was a simple weekday morning, no one suspected that this particular day would change the lives of many.
On the far side of town, upon the highest hill, sat a medieval castle, in which lived the King of the land. The entire town understood that he was not to be disturbed, the grasses around his castle hadn't been trodden upon for years. The King awoke, and gazed out his window at the town that lay before him. 'This will be the day. I won't live much longer. They have to know.' he thought to himself, 'Today I must tell them.' He sat uprightly and called in his one and only servant, John.
"John, send the message to the town."
"T-the message sir?
"Yes John, the message."
"About Prince-"
"Just go!"
"As you wish, sire."
With that, John started off toward the village. There wasn't a soul that went un-told. Everyone had heard the news - Prince Charles has passed away.
The following day John visited the village for a second time. He stood upon a tower in the middle of town and proclaimed "The King decrees that every young man between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one are to meet at the castle gates tomorrow evening." The crowd gasped. No one was to be seen within a hundred yards of the castle, and now the King wants young boys to arrive at the very gates? "The King will ask all the young men to complete a task, and the man to complete it first will be proclaimed Prince of the Land."
The next evening, all the boys able to attend were standing at the castle gates. Some were wearing armor, others just came as they were, but all were there. John came toward them, and instructed, "The royal King has requested that each of you try and complete the task which I am about to give you. Are you ready?"
The soldiers stood up straighter and nodded their heads proudly.
"Good. You are to throw this spear up into the air." Slowly, John revealed a mighty silver spear, with the King's royal seal engraved upon it. The young men smiled. Some started imagining what they would do once they became prince. Others giggled. But John wasn't finished.
"The King realized that many of you could complete this simple task. So he decided to add a little detail. You must catch the spear, but you must be able to count to ten before it lands in your hands. The King has set no further rules. You are able to do anything, as long as you throw it, count to ten, and catch it. Surely you will be able to do that."
The men gathered around gazed once again at the broad spear. It must way nearly fifty pounds! Very few thought they could complete such a task. Nonetheless, all the men formed a neat line in front of John. The ones farther back watched as one by one, their friends and family failed to complete the task set before them. Soon, only a handful of men were left.
The first was Jedrek, an extremely large man with broad shoulders and enormous muscles. Surely he could complete the task. He hurled the silver spear upward, and slowly, he began to count, "7. . .8. . .9. . ." The spear came downward out of the vast blue sky at lightning speed. Inches away from the ground Jedrek caught it. He had failed.
The next was Griffith. His lean body was no where near being as muscular as Jedrek's has been, but he was the quickest man in the village. Surely he could complete the task. He thrust the spear into the azure sky. Quickly he began counting, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8" The spear plummeted downward and landed in the ground in front of the disappointed Griffith. He had failed.
The last was Jordan. A plain man, tall, lean, fit and always ready to work. He wasn't strong or quick, but perhaps he could complete the task. Jordan grabbed the spear with both hands and yanked it out of the rich soil. Jordan cast the spear as hard as he could and began. When the spear started coming back he counted faster, "eight, nine, t-" The spear smashed to the ground. He had failed.
There was no one left. Everyone had tried, but none could complete the task. What would become of the village? Would there be no king to watch over them? All the men began the short journey home, and John started back towards the palace.
"I haven't gotten to try yet." came a voice, high-pitched and extremely small. John spun around. There, right there, was a tiny young boy, Alex Thornton from the west side of town.
"You aren't of the right age." John pointed out simply.
"Well, sir, I just turned 17 last week." the boy replied, his voice determined.
"I beg your pardon. I suppose you must be given the chance the others were given." John walked back and picked up the spear and placed it carefully in the young boy's hands. "Well, go ahead."
Alex took a deep breath. He wasn't strong like Jedrek, nor quick like Griffith, but he was clever. He would find a way. Alex gazed up into the clear blue sky. Suddenly, he smiled. Of course! Why hadn't he thought of it before? The King had only required that he throw the spear, count to ten, and catch it. Nothing else.
He thrust the spear into the sky with all his might. It went no farther than five feet high. Easily he counted to ten and caught the spear. He had succeeded.
John was amazed. The boy had seen something the others hadn't. The King hadn't specified HOW they were to count to ten, he just told them to do it. All the others had counted by ones, Alex had counted by fives.
He hadn't broken any rules, he hadn't done a single thing wrong. In a measly two seconds he did what the others had failed to do. The King was satisfied. Alex had found the one and only flaw in his orders. The King interviewed Alex in his bedchamber. Alex wasn't strong or quick, but he was organized, a good leader, thoughtful, kind, and clever in his ways. He was exactly what the King was looking for.
Alex was declared prince of the land.

~ Hoppy 12 Years of Age

Gentle Ben

I recently finished the book Gentle Ben by Walt Morey. Gentle Ben has 195 pages, and is a fairly easy book to read. Gentle Ben is an Honors book, and is worth 8 points. Gentle Ben is an animal book.
Gentle Ben takes place in Orca City, Alaska. Mark Anderson is the main character. Mark has a very unusual pet. He owns a real live brown bear! His name is Ben, and he is extremely gentle. Mark, along with his family and friends, know that Ben is practically harmless. But the rest of the town doesn't know that, and many fear that Ben will someday harm their children. Life can't always go your way, and Mark has to give up his beloved pet. Ben is sent on a boat to a nearby island where many other brown bears live. Mark is terribly sad to see his best friend go. Then Mark's father's boat sinks, and he is desperate for a new job. Mark and his family move across town to a nearby fishing trap, and there Mark and his father begin work. One day pirates show up and try to steal the fish. When all hope is lost, Ben shows up. Mark and his old friend were united once again.
My favorite Character in the book was Clearwater, Mr. Anderson's worker. Clearwater helped Mr. Anderson fish, and he always knew what to do when things went wrong. I think Clearwater was very wise. When the fishing was bad, Clearwater knew just where to go to get salmon. When Mr. Anderson was deciding whether fishing in certain spots was safe, Clearwater always knew the answer. Clearwater was definetly my favorite character in the book.
I think I am like Clearwater. When my friends have problems, I can usually help them out. When kids are debating whether to do something or not, they will sometimes come to me. I enjoy helping out as best I can. So yes, I think I am like Clearwater.
It surprised me when Ben saved the Andersons from the pirates. Ben had been away from Orca city for quite a while by then, and Mark had finally gotten over the pain of letting his favorite pet go. I was sure that the pirates would just take all the fish and the Andersons would go on with life, a few dollars short though. Yet it was not to be so. Ben, good old faithful Ben, recognized the Anderson family, and noticed that something was not right. He really saved the day. I would recommend this book to those who like books about friendships, animals, and adventure.

- Hoppy 12 years old

Chapter 2 of "Message From the Soulth"

"Me? We-well, sir, what have I done?" Terry gave a hearty laugh.
"Nothin, James, nothin! You means de end of my journey, and, brother, freedom! At last! At last" Seeing the confusion in the boy's face, he quickly explained.
"Lemme shed a little light on dis. I's from de South, ya know. I's been sents here by my master. His name's Master Charles. He saved me froms a terr'ble man who was 'apposed ta be mine master whens I's just a tot. He's also a No'thener. But I tells you 'bout him later. What I brings here's a message. My master was alfo' rich. 'E calls me to his bedside, and 'e says, 'Terrance, I's is sure proud o' you.' Dens' 'e 'ands me 'dis." Terry pulled out a crumpled little paper from his pocket, then unfolded it as if it were made of gold. He read, stumbling over the words,
"I her-her-e-by give Terrance Williams per-perm-is-i-on... permission to go free. But I ask dat 'e tell Francis Truman 'dis before 'e may go..."Terry haded the backside of the note to James. In beautiful handwriting, it read;

It is my will that I, Charles Smith, give the rest of the Smith Fortune to Francis Truman. I ask him to reside to my home in Mississippi to collect the money which is rightfully his.

James was stunned. Money? For his father? A fortune?

His thoughts were interrupted by a large hand on his back.

"James, good fortune 'as come yo' way. Can I ask where ta find yo' Pa?" James beckoned for Terry to follow him, but his head was spinning with excitement.

-By Junior 12 years old

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