A Tough Wolf with No Name: The Circuit Winter 2016 Issue

Welcome to 826michigan’s newest publication, The Circuit. Each workshop season, we publish outstanding pieces of student writing through this electronic quarterly. It’s hard to remember how icy things were just a couple of months (weeks, even!) ago, but inside our writing lab, ideas and imaginations were a combustion engine of bright heat all winter long. We generated great writing about important memories (moments that changed what we thought we knew!); about new robotic characters duos that we created on paper (and on dominos!); and about new myths that we built—just like a cozy fireplace fire—using the pieces of the hero’s journey for fuel. Join us, dear reader, for the best reminder of winter, a collection of writing to conquer the cold, a hero’s journey into spring.


New to 826michigan programs? Check out our schedule of free creative writing workshops for students ages 6–18 here on our website. All workshops are free and open to the public, although some require pre-registration. Our website offers more information about all of our programs for young people in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit—we look forward to seeing you at workshop soon. In the meantime, let the current of this issue of The Circuit bring warmth back to your toes, fingers, and hearts.


This issue, we'd like to give special thanks to our Winter 2016 Workshops Intern Team, Hannah and Jacki, two of the original bot buddies. Without their care, attention to detail, humor, and dedication, we’d be lost in the perils of the wintery mix. Thank you so very much for keeping the engine running full blast all semester long!

Breaking and Entering

Henry Ortiz, age 11 
Maltby Intermediate

“Hey Mom, can I go up to Cullen’s house?”

“Sure,” said Mom. 

“Thanks, Mom!” I dashed out of the house quick as lightening and ran up the hill as fast as a bullet. I felt like I was in a race. 

When I got to Cullen’s house, I immediately rang the doorbell. I couldn’t wait to see Cullen’s smiling face. Then when nobody answered I rang the doorbell again. I finally got something, except it wasn’t Cullen, it was a barking Molly. That’s when I realized Cullen and his family weren’t there. So, I walked around the house and I went in through the side door. I was going through the garage and went to the door and pushed with all my might. I grunted and Molly trotted up to me. I could smell Molly’s toxic breath and I went past her.

 I looked around and then I had an idea. I went to the den to get a piece of paper with Molly following. I wrote:  

“Dear Cullen, hi. How are you? Where are you? Maybe you can stop by my house later. From, Henry.”

I put the note on the kitchen counter and ran back down the hill to my house. I opened the door and Mom said, “Oh, hi Henry. Where were you? I thought you and Cullen were playing.”

“Uh . . . ” I stammered. “They weren’t home.”

“So what were you doing this whole time?” my Mom asked.

“Uh . . . I went in their house.”

“YOU WHAT!?!?!?!?!?” Mom yelled.

“I went into their house and left a note for Cullen.”

Mom sighed and started to explain why I shouldn’t enter people’s houses when they’re not home. Mom went to get her phone to apologize. Cullen’s family found my note when they got home and they all thought it was funny. My note now hangs up on their fridge.

Now I know not to break into people’s houses. I won’t be breaking and entering into anyone’s house again.

The Saga Continues

Calvin Sears, age 14

Washtenaw International High School

Okay, so I like this girl. Her name is [redacted]. So I’m all like, “Dang [redacted] so fine, but she probably won’t notice me” every day of my life, just being an awkward pimply teenager as usual. I swear, if I wasn’t thinking about [redacted] twenty-four seven, I was probably thinking about food, but still.

So anyway, I’m at this hair salon, which is called *Censored* Cuts. So, I’m at *Censored* Cuts texting my good pally <<404>> about [redacted] situation, and who “ships” us or whatever. I’m sitting in a leather chair gushing sweat like Niagra Falls, heart beating so fast it might get a speeding ticket and a $500 fine, and I’m just debating with myself about whether or not I should confess my feels to [redacted]. Luckily <<404>> and [redacted] were at school still with a few of my other friends, so it wouldn’t be so awkward. Probably. I was clammier than a seafood place, white-knuckles clenching my phone and finally pouring my feelings out at my keyboard like a glass of water hoping the texting [redacted] would make me feel better.

BOY WAS I WRONG! Not like I got rejected or anything, more like everybody, myself included was flipping OUT. Suddenly, I was being swamped with texts and calls from <<404>> and his brother—error—even WHILE I WAS ON THE TOILET. So, I’m sitting on the toilet and <<404>> is all like being mysterious and not responding and every now and then she’ll be all “her phone died broseph” or send a word of encouragement while—error—is just textin’ and callin’ like crazy about everything and WOW OH MY GOD WAS I TERRIFIED. And when I did finally get an answer back from [redacted], she was just as awkward as me, all vague and all. But, finally I did run into her and her two friends jumped on me like guard dogs and scoped me out like a freakin’ telescope fan club. It was terrifying to be sure. Anyway, I’m out of time but this was all about a week ago so THE SAGA CONTINUES.

The Sweet Smell of Slushies

Livia Johnson, age 11

Slauson Middle School

“Oh my gosh,” I said out loud. I was standing in front of the biggest roller coaster I had ever seen. It was a huge rickety wooden roller coaster, not like the baby ones I had been on before . . . because, well I’m a scaredy cat.

As we are walking through the line, all I could hear was the fear in my uncle’s voice saying, “Do we have to go?” to my mom as she was standing there jumping up and down with excitement. And my grandpa . . . well he’s a tough guy, but when it comes to roller coasters he will not do it!

In my mouth I could taste the sour feeling you get when there isn’t enough sugar in lemonade and you really want to just spit it out, but you can’t because you have to be polite about it and just drink it.

I could smell the repulsive sweaty people around me and had to cover my nose with my hand because it was that gross. But on the bright side, I could smell the sweet smell of slushies.

A Bigger Word for Nervous That I Didn’t Even Know

Winnie Jalet, age 11

Tappan Middle School

I was nervous as I got up to the block. Thoughts raced through my head like tiny race cars on a track called “my brain.”

I was at the pool in Carmel, Indianapolis. This pool was special. It was the pool where they held olympic trials. I had almost a year to practice for this meet and a week’s worth of tapering. I had worked for this. I had earned this.

I stepped up to the block, my body shaking like a massage chair that you see at the mall. I was nervous, wait, more than nervous. A bigger word for nervous that I didn’t even know.

I reassured myself, it was only a fifty breaststroke. “I’ve swam a million of these,” I said to myself. 

The pool was where I worked my magic. I was a magician in a knee skin. “Take your marks,” said the meet official.

I stood on the block as still as a tree branch. I positioned myself on the block “GO!” I launched myself off the block and was ready for whatever would come.

The Tribe of Mice

Evan Kaganou, age 7

Bach Elementary

A tribe of mice live in a hole. They like to live in an air vent. In the building, people make cheese a lot. The mice hunt in groups, but some don’t like to do it. They liked the cheese though. The humans see the little tiny hole. The mice have a drill, but they only use it to make little tiny holes. All of the mice went out into the building, where there is all of the American cheese. It is a tall stack of cheese. They climb up, but some of them fall and then get hurt a little bit. But they are small and fast so they don’t get hurt very much. Sometimes the tribe hunts together and they bring the cheese. And when they see people, they make a mouse rope and they bring the cheese and the mice up. Sometimes they are scared to take the cheese one by one, because there is a cat with sharp teeth. Then they run for their lives. They make the mouse rope and climb up. But the mice do like one thing—taking cheese two times so there is enough for the tribe.

Snow Leopards

Evelyn Leeser, age 6

Bach Elementary

A drift fell on the leopards and they lost each other! They yelled, “Help!” When the snow fell, they all went out different ways. They played hide and seek for a whole month and they didn’t even know it. Then, a wind came out of a giant cloud and it blew them all back to their snow drift. They were all next to each other.

Roar Making Friends

Cecilia LaRocca, age 6

Eberwhite Elementary

Once upon a time, there was a crocodile named Roar. He wanted to meet new friends. One day, Roar went to the Nile River to get some fish. When he was heading home, he met a snake called Slithern. Roar was frightened.

“Who are you?” asked the snake.

“I am a crocodile,” said Roar in a frightened voice.

“Do you want to play with me?” asked Slithern.

“I don’t know,” said Roar.

“Do I look scary?” asked Slithern. “Do I look scary with my spots on?”

Then one day, they were friends. On that day, they met a robot named Rover.

“Do you want to play with me,” asked Rover.

They replied, “We don’t know. But we can be friends if you do what we say.”

“Okay,” said Rover.

That day they were friends, but Rover said, “I am not going to do what you say.”

“Well, if we are being too mean to you, we are really sorry.”

“It’s okay,” said Rover.

And that is the end.

Roar of the Nile

Dominic LaRocca, age 8

Eberwhite Elementary

Once upon a time, there was a crocodile named Roar. He had purple scales with a white and yellow nose. He was a boy, so he chomped incredibly hard. He lived in the Nile River. It was sunny.

There was a statue at the end of the river that opened and closed. Roar found a map to the statue. For a second, he thought it was a fish, but it was actually a map that looked like a fish.

Thor the Cat

Liliana Yamamoto, age 6

Carpenter Elementary

The first day I got Thor, my new cat, was Friday. My friend was there. I was so excited. We played so much and then we got Thor.

We got home with him and my old cat, Bigs, was hissing at him. Bigs was not happy. They hissed and fought. We had to put Thor in his own room.

Last night, we let Thor out. Bigs tried to hiss but couldn’t because of his asthma. He was so mad that we walked away and we put Thor back in the room.

Molly G. the Puppy

Catherine Gaul, age 8

Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside

On March 2, 2016, my mom got a dog and surprised us with her. After we saw her, she was sooo cute. I was elated and one of my friends, Oliver B., saw her with me.

We went home with her and the first thing we did was put our backpacks away so she couldn’t bite them. Then, we played outside for forty-five minutes. We went inside after that and had dinner. Molly was crazy about it. She finished in five seconds, literally! She was really active after that and started biting us.

On Thursday, we named her Molly M. Gaul. It took us an hour because my mom is so picky about names. Then, on Friday, I shared to my class about her. They all said, “Awww,” when I showed them a picture of her. My friends really wanted to see her and they did. The end.

Cooking Show Pitch

Elena Chambers, age 17

Homeschool

Across the United States, citizens are frequently viewing cooking shows. Through there are many different shows, each bringing something unique to the world of cooking, never before has there been a cooking show featuring desserts for pets.

There is an urgent need in America for easier access to pet treats. Every day, as a family sits down for their dessert, a dog or cat sits mournfully at their feet without so much as a crumb. Not only would a pet cooking channel benefit the pets, it would make for a heightened enjoyment of dessert for humans, as the addition of pet treats in homes would reduce begging and crying from under the table.

The solution to the problem concerning thousands of treatless pets is simple. Petcakes: Treats for Household Animals would explore a wide variety of pet desserts, from cookies for cats to chocolate mousse for fish. Every week, humans and pets alike would tune in to watch expert chefs make gourmet desserts for pets, pre-tested by some of the world’s toughest critics: the chefs’ own dogs and cats.

With widespread knowledge of human desserts readily available, there is no need for another human cooking show. To all dessert-loving humans, it’s time to think of our pets. No longer can we ignore their sad, begging eyes as we greedily eat our own desserts. Supporting Petcakes means supporting your pet. Help revolutionize the world of cooking shows and support one that has never been seen before.

Flying Pig

Alex Anderson, age 10

Homeschool

Once there was a pig, and that pig was named Jo and Jo always wanted to fly. So one day, Jo was walking to his slop and one of his piggy friends had wings. He asked his friend where he got them, and the pig with wings told Jo where to go.

So the pig said, “Good day” and started his journey. His first stop was the mud hills. So he walked over them. Next stop was the Pit of Doom! So he went swimming through it. Finally, he was at the magic pig home and he asked for wings and got them.

My Soccer Ball

Yu Sato, age 12

Slauson Middle School

My soccer ball is my most important thing. The color of it is yellow like a banana and white like snow. It is shiny like stars. It is also smooth as a desk. It is comforting to play with my soccer ball. If I lost it, I would be as sad as when I broke my leg. When I use it, I am happy like I am jumping at Skyzone. I sometimes bring my soccer ball to school and play after lunch. When I get better at playing, I even think that I want to play with my soccer ball forever.

Dear William Carlos William

Fern Murray, age 8

Logan Elementary

How dare you!

You owe me some new plums!

You were going to eat those

with my fruity-looty Fruit Loops!

Also, you owe me a new ice box!

You slammed it too hard and made a dent!

I’m so mad.

A Different Type of Mammal

Dean Plennert, age 9

Harvest Elementary

He tries to look into the mirror and realizes he’s a different type of mammal. He can’t see himself in the mirror, so he climbs into the sink. Now that he can see himself, he realizes he’s a wolverine! He sees he has claws and fur that looks dark brown, but his mom calls him for breakfast.

Jackson thinks, “Oh no, I look like a mini bear!”

His mom walks in his room and screams and says, “Go to the University of Michigan and get a scholarship.” So Jackson goes to the University of Michigan and gets a scholarship because he is a wolverine.

Three Wishes

Shun Sato, age 13

Slauson Middle School

She wished for three things. First one is to fly in the sky. She wanted to fly like a bird. She really likes birds. She also wants to fly with a broom. To fly in the sky was her dream for a long time.

She wants to get a lot of money. Next, she’ll buy a dog and build a castle. She is going to buy cheap dog to build a castle. She is planning to make a pool, a big party room, and a bed made from diamonds. All of her friends are going to come to the castle to play.

The last wish is that she is going to get a smart robot. The robot can speak, and the robot is going to make the castle. Robot can clean the castle. It also can cook anything that is so delicious.

She told anything to the genie, but the genie said, “No, you are a greedy person.”

She was so sad.

A Day Like Pie: Hard to Make

Jude Sears, age 9

Fortis Academy

The disco ball was super shiny, distracting anything nearby. I hadn’t noticed Chad the dragon already breakdancing on the shiny floor now covered in orc slime. I watched the orcs stomping their squishy feet across the big tile floor. Luckily, I had an army of allies hidden behind a wall. They swing in. I actually found a flaw in this plan. Not me nor my troops could dance! I had a trick up my sleeve though. Everyone watched an orc, copied the moves to slay it, and used the moves against Chad. Our plan worked, and Chad fell over in despair. My family came over, one by one, and my day was like pie. Hard to make.

Three . . . Two . . . One!

Mikayla Rucinski, age 11

Maltby Intermediate

My stomach was fluttering. I nervously sat down on the blue swing. I got a hint of the smell from the metal chain. Mitch sat on his yellow swing next to mine.

“Three . . . Two . . . One!” We counted down together. I started to gain momentum. The swing started to sway. My whole body began to shake. I took a grip on the metal chain. It was warm from the summer sun.

I leaned back. My hands were sweating. My grip was loosening. It felt as though I had just dunked them into a lake.

My body moved backward until the swing was no longer holding my body. I started to let go. In that split second when my hands were in the air, I realized I had let go too early.

CRUNK! I landed onto the rough, crunchy sand. A ripple of pain shot through my body. I closed my mouth and I tasted the sand mixed with blood.

I lifted my head slowly.

“Are you okay?” Mitch asked as he rushed off his swing. I then stood up.

My chain was ripped. My whole head hurt and my lip was burning. I carefully touched my chin. It started to sting. It hurt, but I knew I was going to be okay.

Zero to Zero

Yu Sato, age 12

Slauson Middle School

“Ahhh,” I screamed. It’s coming! We had fallen down into water. I heard somebody screaming.

“Wow!” I said.

“Hey! Hey!” my brother said. Everyone got wet but I got the wettest because I was sitting in the front seat of the cart. But, I felt comfortable because it was summer. So, I was happy.

My dad and mom bought me a treat after that. It was very tasty. It was a little salty though. I thought, “I want to eat more” because I was hungry and it was almost time for lunch. I smelled french fries and ice cream. The ride was really fun, but my parents didn’t want to get wet.

So, me and my brother stood in the single rider line. I didn’t care to have a ride with my friends or brother, I just wanted to ride many times. It was the first time in my life that I could achieve a dream. I rode like ten times, it was crazy! I already knew what would happen.