i “She thinks they’re be- I thought, “Annie really thinks they mean it.” was trying to up my vase and walked over to their table. I ye i f a way of helping her. i said the girl in the red dress draeu do it SO-OO good? ne ere she really did good.” I said. tee ee oe in on their es Rasen ed at me. She must have thought i ee ~ Tubs and Chubs es by Diane Donoviel , at her, but she had already turne “Help “Ne : Tr : AG me, Annie,” said. she pen me,” said the oa i ain be I cation my of dress. They all laughed to them- a ery. Lo pate to another table a co no vase with a piece of sandpaper I pretended sents? anh gigeling from the table across the room. =, ~~ HAIKU The old crow descends With extended legs he lands On the scarecrow’s head. Debbie Spong QUATRAIN sliver undermines vA redwood of soft sunned Eftects the skin. surface layers Resembles and fashions a shovel. a sore, Sure to raise and enforce the bead-like bubble. Janice Derkins HAIKU These flowers stay fresh Through the desolate winter, Shamefully plastic. Alene Read 36 8Y hey sat in Mr. Taylor’s sixth period gazing out the window Cay. at the fog- “Are you going to tthe seventh grade dance?” Gail Stared out the window, ignoring Dawn Carter’s question. “Gail, I asked you if you’re going to the dance.” Gail heard a stiffled chuckle behind her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dawn grinning at Roger Burke. Gail felt the warm blush creeping up her neck. She folded her arms tightly over her plump stomach squeeze the roll of fat away. She glanced at Dawn and then staredtrying to at her desk. She thought ef Dawn’s long curly hair that hung loosely down her back. It almost touched her small waistline. Gail squeezed tightly at her waist. She ran her hands down her bulging hips and tugged at her tight fitting skirt. “Why don’t you go to the dance stag if you-don’t have a date?” asked Dawn. “Yeah, Tubs McKinley might ask ya to dance,” said Roger chucklin g. Gail thought of Jim McKinley, who everyone called “Tubs”. He was the fattest person she’d ever seen. His hair was shaved short on the sides and stuck out in the back. She thought of his plump awkward hands and his stubby fingers. She imagined him putting his large arms around her waist as they danced. She shuddered at the thought and dug her nails into her sides until tears came into her eyes. She looked away from and stared out the window. She could hear Dawn and Roger whisperi Dawn ng and laughing. She bit down hard on her bottom lip and pinched at her waist. She was glad when the bell finally rang. Gail walked out of the classroom. She looked at the cracks in the tile floors as she walked down the hall to her locker. Her face still felt hot and her sides ached from the pinching. She opened the locker and stood inside the door staring at the shelves, She thought about Jim McKinley dancing fast. She closed her eyes tightly to make the thought go away, and dug her nails into the palms of her hands. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a “Hershey” candy bar. She tore off the paper and shoved part of the bar into her mouth. She chewed the gummy chocolate as she slammed the locker door shut. Gail walked home slowly after school the day of the dance. The sky looked dark with rain clouds. As she walked across the lawn in back of the school she saw Dawn Carter and Roger Burke walking toward glanced at them. She noticed Dawn had her arm through Roger’s her. Gail lanky arm. Roger had to take short steps so Dawn could keep up. Gail looked down at the ground as they approached. “Hey, there’s Gail,” said Dawn pointing at Gail. Gail watched them out of the corner of her eye. They walked right up to her, blocking her way. She felt her face go hot. “Have you got a date to the dance yet?” asked Dawn. 37