The winners:
POETRY
The Hero’s Cape
The world used to fly
On the ends of
Superman’s cape,
Humming tunelessly to
Batman’s theme song.
On certain nights,
The streets would fill up
With every superhero imaginable,
Roaming from place to place
For an open door.
And when the streets empty,
the lights would fade;
The masks would come off
And faces would start to age.
Comic books get pushed aside;
Dusty and forgotten.
Though childhood memories
Grow fonder
In prospects for the future.
They give the world
Their inspiration.
The birth of hope which grows
In the heart of all who
Witness their kindness
And pay it forward.
For not everything
Is black and white.
Real heroes wear capes
Of every hue.
By Samantha H.
Age 15
I have many people I look up to, and the topic, Heroes, is certainly one I thought about for a long time. I looked up the definition of hero; in short, it is a person who is admired for his or her deeds and is a model to others. I thought about the beginning of the idealization of the term: superhero; that is where it all began- in our childhood. "The Hero's
PROSE
The Room
There was a room they never entered. Some called it The Room of Sinister Thought; others, The Room of Trepidation. Something had happened there a long time ago, but no one remembered exactly what. The House had been in the family for generations and was so large entire wings were closed off, with the furniture hidden under sheets. The house was owned by the Léglise family, whose noble ancestor had invented the guillotine and thus was the most hated people in France
The Léglise family was not the only occupant of the house. They had cooks to bake escargot pie, chauffeurs to polish the Léglise collection of Bentleys, and chambermaids to scrub the chamber pots and dump their contents out the windows. There was a gardener who trimmed the hedges into a maze for the children, an ancient doorman who greeted you with a morose look every time, and finally, an eight-year-old boy named Thaddeus who polished the silver.
Thaddeus was a curious and fearless young boy who loved to explore the unoccupied wings of the mansion. He was the son of the cook and the chauffeur, which meant his mom always snuck him the leftovers and his dad taught him everything about cars. Thaddeus was not the only inquisitive one of the house. The six-year-old Léglise twins, Odil and Celie, were his fellow adventurers, and they spent many a rainy afternoon getting cobwebs in their hair when they weren’t getting beaten by their dad, who stomped around the house with a bottle in his hand.
The games helped the children forget, for in creating imaginary terrors, they forgot their real ones. There was one room into which they would never venture. There were claw marks on the ancient wood door, and brown patches that looked eerily like dried blood.
“What is it?” Thaddeus had asked Odil and Celie the first time he had seen it.
“Papa says it is a sign from the devil and to stay away.”
Of course, the warning only made the children more curious. They played games of Chicken, daring each other to touch the door. Once, Odil claimed something reached out and tripped him as he ran past the door. When he looked down, he noticed an angry claw mark raking his leg, forgetting it had been inflicted when he had accidentally spilled his soup.
The children stayed away for a week after that. Then it rained, and the children were so bored they craved even the terror of The Room of Trepidation. Master Léglise was away on a trip, and the children enjoyed a rare week of peace. They played their usual games until it was time for the twins’ dinner.
* * *
The next rainy day, when Odil and Celie decided to play their game, Thaddeus hung back. Celie had a new black eye, and Odil had a new limp when he walked.
Thaddeus’s heart sank as he looked at his two friends, but he didn’t say anything. They would just say they had fallen down the stairs. Perhaps he could take their minds off their troubles with an adventure.
“Want to play ‘Chicken’?”
Celie lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Thaddy, you can’t actually open the door. The last boy who did that disappeared, and his whole family vanished soon after.”
Thaddeus froze.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We wanted you to play ‘Chicken’ with us.”
* * *
The children avoided the Door after that. They ventured into other wings of the house, but never found anything as fascinating as the Room of Trepidation. One day, when Thaddeus was sent on an errand to retrieve an old silver ewer for a winter ball, he found himself near the Room. He couldn’t help himself. As he passed the Door, he threw a glance over his shoulder, and that’s when he saw it—a golden light, spilling out from under the Door like salvation. The delicious scent of apples wafted from the Room’s inner sanctum. Thaddeus felt the Door pull him toward Her like a magnet, and he lifted his hand toward the iron handle. In his head, he could hear sweet music now, a melody to a song that was familiar, but he could not place.
“Thaddeus!”
They knew his name.
The word jolted him out of his trance. With horror, he looked down to see his hand pulling down on the handle.
* * *
The next evening, Thaddeus was determined to enter the Room. He snuck out in the middle of the night in his pajamas while everyone was asleep. Sliding among the shadows, he stealthily crept toward the forbidden Door, his heart thumping. Without giving himself time for thought, he launched himself at the Door and swung it wide open.
When Thaddeus sauntered in feeling like a brave explorer, he discovered from where the aroma of apples had emanated. A giant apple tree spread its wings in the middle of a lush endless garden. There were no walls to the right or to the left, just a green orchard that spread as far as the eye could see. Thaddeus looked up and saw the cloudless sky shimmering above him like an ocean. He breathed in the fresh apple scented air and closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he was not alone. On either side of the enormous tree stood a tall young man and woman, so beautiful he could hardly look at them. The lady’s eyes were a piercing sapphire blue, and her golden hair rippled about her face like water. A serpent coiled up her torso with a gentle hiss.
“Hello, Thaddeus.”
A lump blocked his windpipe.
“W-who are you?”
“I am the First and the Last.”
The man stepped forward.
“Have you eaten, son?”
He held out a shining golden apple in his hand.
Thaddeus shook his head. There was something about the scene that seemed familiar, and he wanted to share it with Odil and Celie. He found his voice.
“If I need to leave and come back, will you and the garden still be here?”
The lady smiled.
“That’s a chance you will have to take—if you want your friends with you.”
Thaddeus looked around the garden. He was in an orchard of peaches and golden apples, but it was unlike any fruit he had seen before. The plump peaches were the size of basketballs, and they looked like they were about to burst with cool sweet juice. The trees were beautiful for climbing, with branches that stair-stepped to the sky. He could see another world up there to explore—a floating castle that called his name.
“I want to stay.”
The lady nodded.
“Shall I show you around then?”
“Yes, please.”
The lady took him down a cobblestone path to a lake of shimmering topaz.
He wondered, what if the stones were gold? Suddenly, they were. He hunkered down and started clawing them out of the ground to fill his pockets.
What else could he change? A tree caught his eye. Thaddeus imagined a chocolate tree laden with saltwater taffy and then, there it was. He charged over and peeled a strip of chocolate bark, plucked a taffy apple, and stuffed them both into his mouth.
There was a symphony in his mouth—of the sweetest, darkest, richest chocolate and the juiciest saltwater taffy he had ever tasted. He was in Heaven.
Maybe he really was.
“Would you like to go for a swim?” The lady pointed to a glistening blue lake fed by a waterfall that poured from the sky. “The water is warm.”
Thaddeus looked down at his grimy clothes, remembering he hadn’t bathed in days. Celie and Odil had just taught him how to swim, and he was eager to try out his new skills.
He ducked behind a bush to strip as the lady politely turned away, and with a splash, he was in.
“It tastes sweet!”
The lady nodded and smiled. “There may be other surprises as well.”
He dove back down to the bottom, through water clear as shimmering, blue glass.
There was something there, glinting at the bottom of the sea. He pushed his way through a forest of sticky seaweed, reveling in the fact that he could breathe.
He stopped five feet short when he saw a giant yellow eye staring at him.
It belonged to an octopus—the biggest one he had ever seen. It was the size of a room, and it didn’t look friendly. To Thaddeus’s surprise, the octopus plucked its tentacles off the glowing orb and floated away.
Thaddeus placed his hand on the shimmering glass and the cloudiness gave way to stars. Even though his face was pressed to the glass, he felt as though he were moving through time and space as the stars shot past him, and with a shout of surprise he realized he was seeing home. There was his mom picking herbs in the garden, and there was his dad polishing the Léglise’s collection of Bentleys. It made him realize how much he missed home. He trotted inside, looking for something to eat. And that is when he saw himself, laughing and shouting with Odil and Celie as they ran around the old wooden kitchen.
A shadow darkened the door.
“I told you to play outside!” Master Léglise shouted, boxing their ears.
Celie dropped to the floor, clutching her ears. Odil ran to her, screaming at his father.
“You hurt Celie, Papa!”
Master Léglise shrugged and lumbered off. Odil knelt before his sister.
“Are you alright Celie?”
She didn’t answer.
A few moments later, she looked up at him and pointed to her ears. “Why can’t I hear anything?”
Odil stared at her in horror, then took her in his arms.
I don’t remember this happening.
Thaddeus felt someone tap his shoulder, and he whirled around to see the lady Eve gazing at him.
“Did that just happen?”
“It hasn’t yet.”
“So if I go home, I can stop it?”
The lady smiled. “Do you want to go home?”
Thaddeus nodded.
“Just know that if you leave now, the Door to this world may never open again.”
Thaddeus swam to the surface of the lake and gazed at the paradise around him. He was free here and nobody’s servant. But at home, Odil and Celie needed him.
“I want to go home.”
Eve looked stunned. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Thaddeus squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to look at everything he was about to lose. Before, all the good he has seen had made him forget about the bad. But now, all the evil he had seen through the glass had made him forget about the good. He couldn’t ignore it, and when he opened his eyes, he was home.
* * *
“You clumsy clod! Get off the floor.” The Master was glaring at him, his red eyes bulging as he swung an empty whisky bottle over his head.
“I’m sorry, Sir.” Thaddeus clambered to his feet and hurriedly bowed.
“That’s more like it. Just stay out of my way.” Master lumbered off.
Odil and Celie came tearing around the corner.
“Thaddeus! We’ve been looking for you.” Odil gave him a gap-toothed grin.
“We’ve waited to play tag with you all day.”
Thaddeus froze. “I don’t think—”
But Odil and Celie had already disappeared. Thaddeus tore after them, but he was too late. The shadow was already darkening the door of the kitchen.
“I told you to—”
Thaddeus didn’t even think. He grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be the Master’s prized crystal whisky decanter, and hurled it to the floor.
The Master whirled on him. “What the—?”
“Run!” Thaddeus screamed as the Master descended upon him with blazing fists. He knew what was coming, but he still wasn’t prepared for the pain. It was like being pummeled by a train that never ended. All he could think was that he was glad it wasn’t Celie. He hadn’t realized how much he cared for her until he gave up paradise to come back and save her. He just didn’t know what his new feelings meant.
* * *
He woke up in the Room, which was back to normal again—just four walls and a rocking chair. His head felt like an exploded bomb, and he couldn’t hear a thing. The strange thing was, Celie was crying, and Odil’s mouth moved with no sound.
He must be deaf then. The knowledge had been sitting in the back of his head waiting for conformation, but now that he knew it, he felt utterly alone.
“I can’t hear anything.” Thaddeus pointed to his ears.
Odil and Celie stared at him in horror, then took him into their arms. Thaddeus could smell Celie’s hair. He smiled.
And then he realized something.
“You opened the Door.”
Celie pulled out her little chalkboard and quickly wrote. We had to. It’s the only place Papa won’t come.
Odil tugged at Thaddeus’ hand and pointed at his rucksack. It was stuffed with cold salamis, wheels of cheese, and baguettes. Food, Odil wrote on the chalkboard. We’re not leaving you.
Thaddeus’ heart swelled as he hugged his friends. He wished he could take them to his Paradise , but he didn’t know if the Lady would return.
“I have a secret.”
The twins’ eyes widened.
“I have been to another world, and the entrance is here.”
The twins looked around, wide-eyed.
“The last time I was in this room, a giant apple tree spread its golden branches here, and there was a man and a woman who showed me Heaven.”
When can we go? Odil scribbled on the board.
Thaddeus’ face fell. “I don’t know. The Lady said the Door may never open again.”
The children looked deflated.
Just then, the children heard a familiar voice call to them from outside the door. “Children, come outside.”
The children froze. It was the Master.
What shall we do?
“Pray.”
Thaddeus took the twins’ hands in his own, then clutched them tighter when he heard the axe smash the door.
“Dear Lord, please help us—Papa knows not what he does…”
“Hail Mary, full of grace…”
“Our Father, who art in Heaven…”
CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
The door splintered, revealing an angry sliver of the Master’s face.
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…”
Another door panel hurtled to the ground, and the Master was barging in.
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…”
The children clutched each other as the Master descended upon them, fists swinging. They cringed, preparing to feel the force of his blows, but instead, they felt a warm wind on their faces. They looked up to see the most beautiful Man and Lady they had ever seen smiling down at them, and their fear melted into joy. The Couple lifted the children in their arms and flew through the wall into the open sky. There, Thaddeus heard singing.
By Carter Je.
Age 14
Rancho Santa Margarita Branch Library
Artist Statement :
In "The Room," I was trying to create something Gothic, but ended up creating a story of boyhood innocence and valiance instead. Thaddeus is a true hero, for he sacrifices his hearing so his friend doesn't suffer.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
POETRY
A Valentine for My Family
Grandma, you are homemade sweet toffee to my heart
I love exploring the treasure box of your house
In the wilds of Kansas
Combing through your girlhood jewels
And long lace dresses imprinted with daisies and roses
And the dolls you used to play with
When they were actually made out of porcelain
Instead of plastic
I love how you make everything from scratch
How the kitchen always smells of roast chicken
And chocolate chip cookies
Your soft white hands flying like rain
As you tell me
The stories from your life
Grandpa, we fly down a country road
In your ancient bright red convertible
Stopping only to get Sonic Cherry Limeades
Under the golden sun
The bell tinkles
As we race through the door of the Dollar Store
"You can have anything you want, kids!" you say
Flinging open your arms to embrace the world
We pick up kites, coloring books, crayons, and candy
Examining each treasure
Trying to determine which item
Will most help us remember
This wonderful day
With Grandpa
By Cameron M.
Age 12
One Hero
The waves crash on the soft grainy sand
Tumbling like mini avalanches of liquid blue
The seagulls glide in a vast blue bowl of sky
While in the distance, the volcanoes rumble
The constant screech of children shatters paradise
A Behemoth crouches on this pristine beach
Belching sewage and bleach
From a thousand sheets washed per day
The tourists are blind
Wrecking the reefs while their children
Collect a mountain of seashells
Until none remain
Where is the song of the moa-nalo bird
Whose name means “lost fowl”
In the tongue of the ancients?
For three million years
You used to wander the forests nibbling fern fronds
Your babies waddling behind
It was only when humans came and hunted you
That you became but a fossil in the sand dunes
“What can I do?” I cry.
I am but one grain of sand in a vast beach
And then my inner voice prods me
It only takes one person to be a hero
By Carter J.
Age 14
Rancho Santa Margarita Branch Library
“One Hero” was inspired by my trip to
Heroes in My Life
Prodding me forward, pulling my hand,
Whenever I’m falling they make me stand.
Showing me a clear path, giving me a light,
Illuminating the darkness into glory bright.
All around me; friends, family pushing me onward,
Giving me courage whenever I gaze downward.
Granting me hope when depression strikes,
These are all heroes whom help save my life.
The past pushing forward, bringing me peace,
Holding my hand, leading me to the present.
Suffragists, immigrant’s rights defenders all blazed the way,
All side by side so in this world I can stay.
Lives being lost for my sake,
History allows me to live to this day.
Giving up their lives, choosing to fall,
Granting peace and safety to me and to all.
Sacrificing life and love for my liberty,
Showing me peace and hope with full sincerity.
Bestowing me with a gift too priceless to sell,
To shock the whole world like a tolling bell.
These are true heroes without limitations,
Their stories are told throughout all the nations.
Bravery shown on the outside while internally afire,
Knowing they’re marching into danger so dire.
Yet, without them I, no we cannot live,
With their bravery and spirit the world to forgive.
Granting me peace, hope, joy and love,
These heroes are surely sent from above.
By Emily H.
Age 12
A Hero’s Journey
“Hero, it is rightly thine,
The bronze sword wicked sharp,
You shall travel at the archer’s sign
And tempt the dragon with thy harp.
Fly, you shall journey
Over the mountains you go.
With the fate of a tragedy,
The blazed trail you follow.”
And with a mighty flick he gave,
Thunder rolled across the sky
He had arrived, the beast’s lair.
The winds breathed a sigh.
He approached, wary,
The dragon’s breath was calm.
The sword he promptly carried,
Above the dragon’s heart!
Then it gave a might roar,
the hero thrown aside.
The blade skid across the floor,
Then split upon the dragon’s might.
The hero then took flight,
And ran, reckless for safety
Yet he remained dangerously close
To the dragon’s sight.
Then back he whirled,
The spare dagger he jammed
Into the dragons scale.
“Bam!” the dragon’s tail slammed
into the battered chain mail.
Yet with a mighty effort
He held and grunted
The dragon howled and roared in pain.
The thunder rolled undaunted.
The pain had driven the beast insane.
The dragon shivered and crumbled,
The hero stood humbled.
The early spirits mumbled,
And out the hero tumbled.
Back he journeyed,
Back to his land.
The dragon head as trophy.
Yet he was badly shaken,
His body bruised,
Spirits lofty.
Beware heroes, of your fate.
For they will not change.
Face them with renewed faith,
Your body in flames and singed.
By Billy H.
Age 12
This poem is inspired by all the heroes in my life who helped me in one way or another to become who I am. Thank you for all your help, love and dedication. Everyone is a hero in one way or another. Thank you.
PROSE
Rosie’s Gift
The summer sun scorched America
“Swing low, sweet chariot…coming for to carry me home!” America America
It was a doll.
Not wanting to know what her master would do if he caught her loitering, she quickly placed the doll inside a hollowed tree and returned to her rice paddy.
The lunch bell signaled a short break. America
“Someone stole my carrot!” she fumed.
Her sister Tamika peeked her head around the corner, holding America
“You don’t know how long it took to grow that.”
Tamika’s eyes were two huge moons as her shoulders slumped.
After a lunch of salt pork and burnt hush puppies, the sisters sprinted to the old gnarled oak.
“You mustn’t tell anyone,” America
“Ahhh…A DOLL! A D—!”
“Did you hear what I said?”
***
“This is better than Callie’s cornhusk doll,” Tamika whispered into her sister’s ear. “She’s always showing it off.”
“But there is no showing this doll off, clear?”
Tamika nodded, stroking the doll’s wet chestnut hair.
“Put it back in the oak tree. We’ll be back for it tomorrow.”
“Fine,” Tamika harrumphed, stomping back to the fields.
“Where have you been?” Abby asked, looking tense. “Cook has been looking everywhere for you two.”
“’Bout time you two decided to make an appearance,” Cook harrumphed grumpily. “Go pick a bushel of berries in the forest. Master wants blackberry pie.”
“Yes’m.”
“Come on, before it gets too late,” America
The two sisters crept cautiously into the thick forest, getting deeper and deeper with every step.
“Can I get the doll?” Tamika pleaded, pulling at her sister’s ragged dress.
“Not now, Tamika. We’re already in enough trouble as it is.”
Tamika started to pout, then dashed off to retrieve her doll.
“Tamika please,” America
It was no use. America
By the time the two sisters entered the woods for the second time, it was completely dark, and America
But Tamika looked so happy as she hugged the doll to her heart and whispered to it. She couldn’t take it away from her.
***
“Shouldn’t we be there by now?” Tamika whined. “I’m hungry.”
“Uhh…almost. Just up this hill.”
“You said that twenty minutes ago,” Tamika yawned. “Rosie is tired.”
“Uhh…let’s take a break,” America
Tamika laughed. America
The two sisters sat at the roots of a tree, huddling against each other for warmth. It was even colder now that they had stopped walking, and America
“I think I shall use these leaves for my blanket, for I am a fairy queen, and no cotton shall touch my skin,” Tamika announced, burrowing in a pile of leaves as she imitated her master’s daughter.
“I’ll make a fire,” America
She had never actually made a fire before, but she wasn’t about to mention it to Tamika.
When the first spark shot from the stick, no one was more amazed than America
“Quick, BLOW!” America
Of course the spark disappeared, and America
“Don’t worry, just go to bed and everything will be alright in the morning,” America
A heavy panting came from behind them, freezing fear into their bones. Something heavy collapsed into the leaves behind them.
Once Tamika had gathered all of her courage, she peeked around the tree.
“What is it?” America
“A wounded soldier. A Confederate.”
“There’s chocolate in my left pocket,” the man said softly.
The sisters jumped back.
“It’s ok, you can eat it,” he said, breathing heavily.
“Thank you, sir,” Tamika replied, reaching down his pocket for the chocolate.
The man giggled. “Hoo! Tickles.”
“Do you need help?” America
There was a silence.
“Uhh…yes. Just an arm transplant, haha.”
“Whatever you say, nurse,” the man smiled.
“Tamika, soak this rag in the river.”
“But that’s my doll’s dress!”
“Rosie is just going to lend it for awhile to help make this man feel better.”
Tamika glared at her sister, then stomped off to the river.
“Where did you get that doll?” the soldier asked quietly.
“Why?”
“Do you know how valuable that doll is?”
“No, but you aren’t taking it away from us,” America
“That doll contains a treasure that can help many people. When your sister returns, I’ll show you. Don’t worry—you can keep the doll.”
When Tamika returned, she sullenly handed over Rosie’s dress. America
“Ahh…so much better,” the soldier sighed. “I’m George Button, by the way.”
“America
“Here, I’ll show you.”
Tamika looked stressed as George unscrewed the doll’s head and shook out a glass bottle onto his hand.
“What is it?” Tamika gasped.
“Morphine. It’s something that makes pain go away.”
The two sisters stared at George.
“How did you know it was in there?”
“My troop has been looking for months for it, but we hadn’t had any luck.”
“Well, why don’t you use some?” Tamika asked.
“There are soldiers who are in worse pain than I am. Would it be okay if we shared Rosie’s gift with them?”
“Of course,” America
“Thank you so much. I promise you won’t regret it.”
George slipped the bottle of morphine into his pocket and groaned as he stood. “Need help finding your way home?”
“Yes. And the way to the nearest blackberry bush.”
“Blackberries? Those are my favorite! I know just where you can find some too.”
***
Hours later, after the two sisters had been roundly scolded by cook and were safely tucked into their pallets, America
“What a night!” Tamika yawned.
“Do you think we dreamed it?” America
“No, Rosie’s still naked.”
“He said he would bring the dress back.”
“I hope he washes it first.”
***
Everyone in the town woke up to the sound of Confederate soldiers marching down to Magnolia House.
“Are America
The two girls froze as they heard their names.
“Why are you looking for them? What have they done?”
“Where are they?” another soldier shouted, looking tense.
“We’re here,” America
And then, Tamika saw someone she recognized. “Mr. Button!”
“What are you doing here? How’s your arm?” America
“All better, thanks to my nurse,” George grinned, waving his arm to show it was all better. “I believe I have something that belongs to you.” George handed Tamika a box wrapped in pretty pink paper.
Tamika’s eyes widened. “For me?”
George nodded. “It’s from all of us.”
All the soldiers smiled at the two girls.
“Go ahead, open it.”
Tamika carefully unwrapped the gift, knowing she would treasure the paper and ribbon as much as the gift.
“It’s Rosie’s dress…and more!” Tamika lifted one lovely doll dress after another out of the box. Some were white lace, while others were dresses of pink silk painted with flowers.
The master’s daughter looked a bit green. Even she had never seen such finery.
Tamika was speechless.
“And that isn’t all,” Mr. Button said. “We have something else that belongs to you.”
A nice looking man and woman stepped out from behind the soldiers.
“Mama! Papa!”
Both girls ran to embrace their parents.
“We’ll never forget your compassion, America
By Cameron M.
Age 12
San Clemente Branch Library
