Internal monologue #2

Where am I? I can feel some warmth on my face but all I can see is a blanket of dark red. Right, I should probably try to open my eyes. I do so, slowly getting use to the bright light. Wait, this place doesn't look familiar...where is the colourful play contraption and my friends? I try to move my head around but some kind of stiff material is preventing me from doing that. It feels as though I'm wearing some kind of oddly shaped hood. I kick my legs around to see if I can maneuver myself. It's no use! They seem to entrapped inside a large sack. I lift my arm only to see that I'm wearing some kind of puffy green sleeve. Am I wearing a....oh no! Please don't be what I think this is. Friends have told me about giants who dress little people into weird looking costumes, then flash bright lights into their eyes for a long period of time. Is that what they're going to do to me? I don't want that!

I squiggle and squirm, but it's not helping me get anywhere. It also hurts to move my head because the floor I'm lying on is hard and full of long cracks. I start to cry, maybe then someone would come and help me escape from this green prison. Oh look, it worked! I see a tall person with long brown hair looking down at me, smiling. Hello there, are you going to help me? Wait, what are you doing? What's that black box you've got there? She mumbles something. Sorry, I didn't catch that-Ow! I just saw a flash of light! Oh no, here we go! My eyes are wide with surprise. Oh no, it's starting, the torture is starting!

All I can do is lie here while to she flashes away with that dreaded thing! People are starting to circle around us, one by one. They are laughing. Laughing at my misery of course. My friends told me how these giants take pleasure in these sort of things. They think it's funny how they can easily take advantage of us! Stealing us away from our friends, dressing up in outrages outfits, then shining painful lights in our faces! It's so rude! The crowd of people disperse, and I am left alone again. I'll get back at them for this, they'll see! I won't be tortured and humiliated like this...but first, I think I'll finish taking my nap.

Ages: kids

Purpose: To give a humorous perspective of a baby's life

Internal monologue #1

So close, yet too far

We did it. After several hours of brutal hiking, we have finally reached the top of the lookout. We are so high up that the sheets of clouds are surrounding us. Standing together, we face the vast escarpment of lush trees. It's beautiful, yet I cannot overcome this emptiness. I tell myself I should be proud, but I know I haven't accomplished my true goal.

I watch my friend as he looks proudly toward the distance. While he stands here with me I think of how much I wanted this, just the two of here, away from society and their norms. And then, after talking and observing the scenery, I could finally draw up the courage to tell him my true feelings. The ones I have hidden not just from the world, but from myself. His forgiving nature, his smile, his friendship. For the longest time, I hated myself for even thinking that way. I felt jolts of happiness being with him, but every time I did I felt as if I was committing a crime. I told myself I couldn't go on hating myself like this anymore. It took me some time but I convinced myself that if I could learn to accept who I was, maybe he would too. And that is how I came to set this all up.

I open my mouth to say something, but I'm being held back. Could it be the fear of rejection, loss of friendship or just fear itself? My heart races quickly, feeling as though it were to erupt from my chest. What if he takes it the wrong way and becomes afraid of me? It's common for men to be afraid of other men being attracted to them, I know this. Our relationship would be over faster than clouds rolling past us. I'm having doubts about myself, my self-esteem sinking to the pits. He's right there, so close yet too far from my reach.

As I struggle through this internal war, my friend continues to daze out into the steep valleys. He doesn't notice a thing. How can he, he doesn't know how much I love him, and now he'll never know. And now, I can't look at him the same way I did before, so I just stare at the rocks below me.

Audiences: All ages
Purpose: To give a perspective of the inner struggles homosexual/bi people go through, particulary those who are men.

In the News #4

Teen prepares for summer jobs

Audience: Teens 14-19

Purpose: To remind people to hurry up and apply for summer jobs and try something different.

Like most teens reaching their final year of high school, the stress for seeking a summer job has come upon 17 year old Kayla Free. Her main goal was to apply for a life guarding crash course during mid March.

Kayla sat in front of the computer, her desktop filled with various windows and tabs. She began jolting down addresses and phone numbers on post it notes that were scattered on top of her desk. She then flipped through her Toronto Fun Guide magazine rested on her lap, looking for other available summer jobs. March was the key month for putting in summer job application forms, and Kayla was running out of time.

"I really wish I had looked into finding a summer job earlier." She sighed, "If I had planned to do life guarding earlier, I would have already finished my crash course by now. Looks like I'll only be able to finish it by April. I probably won't even have a job as a life guard this summer."

Even though Kayla knows that her chances of becoming a life guard for this summer are slim, her uncle had convinced her that it would be beneficial to take the crash course anyways. "It's a good idea to have these type of skills to back in your resume because it will benefit you in the long run. Plus, you can always try out for life guarding again." Explains her uncle. "It's also a bonus to obtain an emergency first aid certificate."

Kayla then began to pick out some back up jobs. A particular job she had in mind was being a summer camp counsellor. She already had the skills for working with children from volunteering with kids for three years as a sculpting instructors assistant. She started changing up her old resume and cover letter for that job. It was worth a shot.

After several minuets, she had finished her resume and cover letter and it was ready to be mailed the next morning. However, this did not stop her search. She knew she would have to apply to other places as well, in case she couldn't get that job.

"I want to avoid having a job in retail for the summer, but I know that's not the case." She states, "A job is a job, and I might not even get the one I want. Everyone has to go through customer service jobs, whether they like it or not."

This month will be a busy one for teens all across the country as they try and find a way to make some dough for the summer. Kayla will be continuing to find as many jobs to apply for as sh can. Only time will tell when she'll receive her first call for an interview.

In the News #3

Audiences: Teens and up

Purpose: To encourage people to continue to stick with their hobbies

Grandma knits a world record

Tonight, Marion Free, grandmother of Kayla and Douglas, knits her second sock for her soon to be 20th pair! Beside her chair is a basket of her collection of socks she had been working on.

Marion quietly sat in her living room chair, watching her evening news as she nimbly knitted the cuff of her sock. Her hands were continuously hard at work, going over and under with her yarn entwined through the thin bamboo needles. Her stitches came out neat and tiny, revealing a beautiful striped pattern of of blues, oranges, and browns.

When asked how she was able to create the complicated multicoloured stripes, she humbly laughed and said, "Oh, it just comes out this way automatically. All I have to do is follow the pattern and the multicoloured yarn makes it come out this way. Nothing to it!" None the less, she has been doing a great job so far.

Interviewers were curious how this sock crazed phenomenon came to be. "Well," starts Marion, "I saw the sock yarn in my Mary Maxim order magazine, so I decided to buy a couple of balls to try it out. They came out beautifully! I gave the finished pairs to my granddaughters. And then I thought, 'these would be great to make for Christmas gifts!' So I started knitting some for my daughters, sister in law and friends. I became hooked and haven't stopped since!"

So far, Marion has knitted around twenty pairs of socks! Her daughter, Becky, whose also creative in the arts and crafts, sells her leather works at a shop in her small town. Marion has been helping out with her business by making pairs socks for her to sell. "She's been a great help for the shop!" Becky states happily. "The customers love them! They're selling really quickly, so it looks like poor mom's going to have to work faster!" Marion plans to make smaller socks for babies.

While Marion does get a little tired after knitting for hours on end, you can tell she enjoys what she does. "Sometimes I give myself a break after I've knitted a couple of pairs." States Marion. "But then, I go back to Mary Maxim's craft store to buy more yarn. It's always interesting to see how some pairs will turn out when buying yarns I haven't used."

It's never to late to pick up a hobby. Marion only started making socks in the beginning of the year, though she has a wide range of experience with handicrafts. There are many craft stores that offer lessons for knitting, crocheting, sewing and other handicrafts. If interested, these multicoloured yarns are available in Mary Maxim, Micheal's and other local craft stores.

In the News #2

Audiences: Kids ages 12 and up who are hopelessly addicted to computer games
Purpose: To show those addicts that there is more to life than just virtual simulations

Boy breaks habit

There has been a recent break through to computer addicts everywhere. It has been reported that Kayla Free's game crazed brother, Douglas has not touched the computer once today! This shocking new discovery has raised many eyebrows of the Free household.

After arriving home from school, Douglas settled his bag down on the living room couch and went straight into the kitchen to empty out his lunch box. Instead of sitting down in front of the computer like he usually does, he went in the living room and immediately began working on his math homework. One would think that after his homework, he would approach the computer, but in this case he did not. In fact, throughout the whole day he didn't even ask to use the computer.

"I really don't know what came over him!" Exclaimed his sister, "That kid's spend more time on the computer than anyone. I'm just glad I actually got the chance to do my homework early on the computer for once."

In the past, Douglas would spend hours on end playing computer games such as Star Wars Battlefront and Spore. Not only was he a compulsive gamer, but he didn't like sharing the computer either. It made it extremely difficult for his older sister, Kayla to use the computer for school work purposes, resulting in conflicts between the two. He was clearly addicted. But that later changed after his parents had put him on a one hour daily curfew. He would also need an adults permission to use the computer. It seems that after being denied access to the computer by his grandmother so many times, something in his mind told him to give up. He no longer cared.

"I've really seen a big change in Douglas since started spending less and less time on the computer." States his grandmother. "Not only has he been completing his homework regularly, his attitude has changed greatly as well. He's just become a nicer person."

And it's true. Douglas has become more friendly. His and lack of patience was due to the excessive eye soring hours of computer games. Experts actually state that the less time you spend on the computer, the further your assholeness decreases .

Douglas is no longer a slave to his computer now. He has discovered that there is more to life than visual stimulation's. He continues to paint his War Hammer models-a hobby he enjoys doing every evening. Hopefully, Douglas's breakthrough will inspire other addicts to ditch the computer games and break the habit.

In the News #1

Audience: Teens that do household chores

Purpose: To encourage other teens to be brave when it comes to washing dishes!

Girl fights dish scum

Just last evening, Kayla was seen in the kitchen, having a one on one battle against dried residue from dinner. Wielding only a cloth and dish soap, she triumphed over an exhausting, but successful victory.

Kayla hovered over the kitchen sink, her hands pruned from working in the steaming dish water. All the other dishes had been thoroughly cleansed-all except for one. It was dried spaghetti sauce and noodles. Glaring at the last crusty covered plate, she snatched it and began soaking it in the hot water. She quickly went to work, scrubbing the cloth as hard as she could against the plate.

"Every night my sister tackles on the toughest grimes and crusts and succeeds every time." Her brother tells us as he waits to dry the last dish. "There's no mess she can't handle!"

Force alone wasn't enough to wear away the tough scummy external. She would have to let it bathe in the water for a while to weaken the dried excess of food. Kayla let her hands cool down as she gave the dish a good five minuets worth of soaking.

"Not only is she a dish washing pro, she's very dedicated at what she does." Her father boasts. "She does her duties without being asked, and always leaves the dishes sparkling clean."

After the soaking process was complete, it only took one swipe of her cloth and all that grime slided off clean, squealing in defeat. "You may have defeated me this time, but I'll be back! And tougher than ever!" Claimed the scum in agony as it traveled down the drain.

Kayla beamed over her victory, giving the dish one final rinse before being put on the drying rack. She had managed to conquer over another dish. It was just another night's worth of hard work.

A poem tells a story

Huffing, struggling to his feet,
The unforgiving desert heat
All the hope that he had left
was sinking, done and dead

Blowing, stinging in his face
The sand was all that he could taste
He knew that soon his time would come
the dust would be his bed

Weakly falling to his knees
The desert triumphed his defeat
No longer could he take one step
He let his body go

But just before he closed his eyes
He saw a figure by his side
It's outstretched feathers bright and red
emitting mystic glow

Just then the light had lit the sky
Was this death, had he just died?
His eyes adjusted to light
his suffering was done

Lifting himself off the ground
He felt as if he was unbound
The creature that had saved him left
And there was only the sun

Seeing without eyes

The sculptress

She feels the muddy, supple texture
moving, rolling, through her fingers

Forming, twisting, hands at work
These sightless eyes will guide her through

For she remembers from the time
When she could see with sightly eyes

A picture forming in her mind
Always embedded in her thoughts

Then she slowly molds a figure
memories that she once had seen

But sight to her is useless now
For she can feel the world with ease

Landscape

Fog so thick

Journey through the mist of aqua
as the droplets kiss your neck
The warmth and moisture of it's arms
will grasp you in it's dampen depths

You'll never know just how this wonder
Drew you in it's charming trance
Before your eyes, the fog will thicken
swirls of vapors start to dance

Suddently the mist condenses,
wrapping you in clouds so thick,
perhaps you should have thought before
you entered through the beauty mist

Dreams and Dreaming

My dreams suck

While others dream of cotton candy,
Unicorns and fluff,
The dreams I see while fast asleep
Are full of rotten luck

Never have I dreamt a dream
Of flying, soaring high
Instead I hit rock bottom
When I try my best to fly

And when I’m being chased while dreaming
These legs of mine don’t move
Or sometimes I’ll just trip and fall
Over a sidewalk groove

And it’s a joke that I could dream
Of sharing a romance
Cause even if I tried real hard
Some girl just steals my chance

So hurray for all you happy dreamers,
For my dreams are full of muck
If dreams are drawn from deep desires
Then how come mine all suck?