Poem: Alona

 Alona is a beautiful feature,

Made by mother nature. 

If there was no Alona,

Oh, where would we be?

Alona has brown eyes,

That glisten in the sun,

Her hair is the same,

And she knows she is number one.

Alona’s last name is Mills,

Like the ill in hill, 

Chantel is her middle name, 

Like the word fidillebrain. 

Which is a made-up tail. 

Her favorite color is pink,

Like the sentence ice rink,

But me and ice rink do not sync. 

Alona’s age is eleven,

She is in session,

But sometimes she needs to learn a lesson.

Alona dislikes people,

Specific people indeed,

But sometimes,`

They are in need.

She offers to help,

As nice as she is,

And it’s really,

Just a bid.

Alona is very tall,

As tall as the letter l in fall,

And the fall is near,

And the leaves fall here.

Alona’s name is not spelled as Alana,

It’s also not Bona,

But it could be Lona.

Alona likes roses,

That are blue,

But that’s something else

That could do.

SHOULD SOCIETY ALLOW EXOTIC ANIMALS AS PETS? The Debate

                                            Trained Lion 

      Imagine how fun it would be to train a lion as a service animal. But I don’t agree to keep them as pets. What if they betray their own owner and they eat you?, It would be painful.

  

      Both male and female lions have very powerful roars that can be heard up to 8km away. A lion is so loud because it’s vocal folds form a square shape. What if a lion roars in your house and it’s super loud what would you do?.

     

       Lion’s can weigh about 30 stone. On average males weigh 190kg almost 30 stones and females weigh 126 kg almost 20 stones. They need this weight and power behind them to hunt large animals and to define their pride. (THAT’S EXOTIC!). Imagine a lion jumping on you like a dog? Does what you would do to a 30 stone lion.

     

      Females lion’s can not be separated from their cubs so how will a female lion would be crazy wild to find their cubs. So how wild would it be a mama lion to be separated from their cubs in your house? How crazy. A wild mad mama lion in your house would be dangerous. Don't agree to keep her in your house.

      How it would feel to have a exotic animal in your house?. I would think twice about having a exotic animal. 

Amanda S.

______________

Exotic Pet Ownership Argument

Do you think having exotic animals is bad? I don’t! If you do, I don’t agree with you. These are reasons why exotic animals should be treated as pets.

First, exotic animals should be kept as a pet because they are kept in an exotic pet store and don’t get stolen from the wild. They are trained to not kill people. Exotic animals should be kept as a pet because they are kept in an exotic pet store and don’t get stolen from the wild. They are trained to not kill people. They are also legal to keep.

Also, wild animals are different from exotic animals. Keeping a wild animal is illegal though. Exotic animals and wild animals are different. Exotic animals are actually from a store and not from the savannah. Even though exotic animals sound like wild animals, there is an important difference. Exotic animals are animals from another continent then where you live while wild animals could be in the same continent where you are. 

Next, yes some people died from exotic animals. But that was because they were irresponsible! Like Terry Thompson, who let all his exotic animals out and then killed himself. That was only him and not every exotic pet owner. You have to be careful and cautious while keeping an exotic animal. An example is in Cleveland; all these exotic animals were let go and then there was a massacre. So you have to be responsible. You might get a disease, but that means you have to be careful and cautious so you don’t get sick. Also, some zoos say that you have to be responsible.

Lastly, these were my reasons why people should have exotic pets. They aren’t illegal or stolen from the wild. They aren’t wild animals, just animals from a different continent. You have to be responsible and cautious while caring for one. So, people should have exotic pets.

                    Joseph P.

                                                    _______________

                            

                                   Thoughts on Exotic Pet Ownership

Some people think that having exotic animals as pets is a bad idea, some think it's fine if you know important facts before purchasing the animal and knowing how to take care of it. As you can see there is a debate on whether or not you should own exotic animals as pets.

I think that only people that know how to take care of the animal should be able to own a exoitic  pet. I think this because you could harm the animal if you don’t know how to feed and take care of it properly. You could also harm yourself by not knowing anything about the animal and it could overpower you.

I also think that just because an animal is cute doesn't mean you should buy. Even the cutest of animals could be dangerous . For example a cub ( baby bear ) could look cute but it could be extremely risky to take care of one. You would need the proper food, training, information and  have to take care of one. 

 According to the website Exotic Animal Injuries | Jim Adler & Associates There have been 164 big cat injuries and 21  deaths, 28 bear injuries and 4 deaths, 103 injuries and 19  deaths and in in August 2016, a 10-foot king cobra similar to the one pictured above escaped from its’ owner’s home in Fort Bend County, TX alarming the nearby community. It probably wouldn't have happened if they had the right cage for the snake.

 

These are my thoughts on having a exotic animal as a pet.

    De'Zyiah N.

                                                    Exotic Pets

Owning exotic animals is unnecessary! I don’t think people should have exotic animals as pets because it is bad for the animal’s mental health, plus it is dangerous for the owners to be around wild animals. 
    Wild animals in captivity can go insane. First, the animals are going to get bored and they will probably mess up the house.  They will knock down some pictures that’s hanging up or  they could scratch the furniture. Secondly, the pet wouldn’t have any other animals to interact with. They need to be with other animals because they need some animals to play with. It is important that they are with their own kind, like lions in a pack. Lastly,  The animal will go crazy because it’s not at his home. The animal needs to live in its natural habitat. 
    The exotic animals are dangerous to people. First, they are dangerous because they destroy things. They could jump on stuff and Throw things on the floor. They could destroy the owner’s home and make it an unsafe environment. Next, they could kill someone by giving them a big scratch. Exotic animals could also bite someone with their sharp teeth.

Lastly,  A tiger is an exotic animal that could be dangerous because a tiger can jump up on you and is much stronger than the average person. Some exotic animals could be powerful enough to kill a human. 
    In conclusion, I don’t think people should own a Exotic animal. It’s not good for the animal to be inside a home because it is not meant to be a pet. In addition,  Exotic animals are dangerous for people and someone could get hurt. Instead of a exotic animal you can get a dog.
        Daniel H.

                            ____________________________

                                Exotic Pets: To Own or Not to Own

Owning pets is a big responsibility. Owning an exotic pet is too much of a responsibility for people to take on. I think people shouldn’t have Exotic pets because Exotic pets can be deadly and they are expensive to properly care for. 
    Exotic pets can be deadly. First, because they can think their owner is  food. They might try to eat a person, especially if they like to eat meat! Next, they can have sharp claws and teeth. A person could get bit or scratched. Finally, exotic pets are deadly because they are stronger than people. For example, on the news a chimpanzee ripped a person’s face off.
    Exotic animals are expensive to own. First, it costs a lot of money to feed an Exotic animals. Exotic animals have a special diet. Next, exotic animals are expensive because if they get sick they have to go to the vet. It would probably cost more for a vet to treat a monkey or tiger as opposed to a kitten.         

Finally, exotic animals are expensive to purchase in the first place. It would cost a lot of money for a person to even buy one. 
    In conclusion, people should not own Exotic animals. They are too dangerous for people to be around. Plus, they are way too expensive to purchase and provide for. Exotic animals belong in the wild, away from people. 
        Tareek G.

                                 _____________________

                                 Pet Bear?      

    People think owning a bear is dangerous because a bear can kill you. But if you take care of it while it’s a baby it probably won’t hurt you. You can’t just get a bear or any type of animal like a bear without an animal license. Here are some reasons on why you should own a bear. 
    To begin with, bears are NOT mean or malicious. They are just shy. Bears are sentient beings who are really large in personality. Bears are beautiful.
    In addition, bears do not attack to defend their territory, not even mother bears. Mother bears attack to defend their cubs and only if there is danger.
    Furthermore, bears are peaceful, thoughtful, emotionally intelligent animals who truly love their cubs. When a bears is near humans they usually choose to avoid us.
    In conclusion, this is why I think people should have bears. 

            Rosario R.

                __________________

                                Think About It!

  

Having an exotic pet may not be the best choice. Exotic animals are exotic for a reason, and probably isn’t’ something you might want to take in as a pet of your own.

    Exotic has the name exotic for a reason. Why would you want something exotic? Yea exotic animals are rare but they may be dangerous. Also, Why would you want a random wild animal? As a non-expert i can’t say if they are proven to be 100% dangerous but it may not be the best choice.

      Another reason why it might not be a good choice is that, exotic animals could be dangerous., They probably won’t know how to act as a caring pet because of living out alone unless you found them in a zoo where they have been trained. I believe to be more calm.

    Furthermore, why get an animal who most likely  doesn’t know how to be calm and listen but also could be trained depending on how it listens? You wouldn’t know for sure if the animal is 100% calm and will be obedient.

    Lastly, exotic animals could be a pet if you wish but why get something exotic and/or might be dangerous when you could save yourself and get a guaranteed safe pet? According to Google, exotic animals are a Human Health Risk, and are carriers of zoonotic diseases, such as Herpes B, Monkeypox, and Salmonellosis, all of which are communicable to humans.

    To conclude, my statement and opinion these are all the reasons why exotic animals may not be the best choice for a pet.

    

    Nasai N.

                                ________________________

     

EXOTICS: To Own or Not to Own? That is the Question

Have you ever wondered about all of the exotic animals (something that is from another part of the world) there are and that are being kept as pets? I believe that people should not own exotic animals and it is wrong to keep them as pets. 

    To begin with, people should not keep exotic animals as pets because they can be a danger to their owner. Some animals can have diseases which can be bad to their owners.  The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 93,000 salmonella cases caused by exposure to reptiles are reported each year in the United States. As many as 90 percent of all macaque monkeys are infected with herpes B virus, which is harmless to monkeys but often fatal to humans. 

In addition to that exotic pets can also be wild and they can even try to hurt you. According to the Into Literature book (Page 146, Paragraph 5) In 2009, a little girl was strangled by a 12-foot- long Burmese python. It was a family pet and had gotten out of it’s aquarium. 

Furthermore, exotic animals do not make good companions. 

According to Born Free USA. org, they need  special care, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. When they are in the hand of their owners, the animals suffer due to poor care. Animals can also pose safety and health to their owners and other people that come in contact with them. 

In conclusion, exotic animals should not be kept as pets. They are wild, don’t make good companions and can be dangerous to their owners.
    

    Balqees

                    ____________________

                         Exotic Animals as Pets? Nope.

These exotic animals could hurt people, including their owner.         

    First, they could hurt someone by attacking them. These animals could bite with their sharp teeth or scratch someone with their sharp claws.

    Second, it is dangerous because these types of animals are not used to living with people. They are not used to living in a home and it could cause them to act wild. These types of animals living in a home is dangerous for both the owner and the animal. Animals need to be free. I think animals should not be held hostage in a home.     They should be able to live in the wild because that is their natural habitat. Second, they should be able to live with their animal family. For example, a tiger has a pack that he probably wants to stay with instead of being taken away to live with a human. In conclusion, exotic animals should not be pets. It is dangerous and not fair to the animal. Instead of having exotic pets they should get a pet like a puppy or a cat.

    Anicia M.

                                ___________________

                            Exotic Pet? Umm, No.

In my opinion I think that exotic animals should not be pets. I think they should not be pets because even though they are cute you never know what they were doing in exotic country, or continent. They might even bite you if they are scared. Even if exotic animals were allowed to be pets, I would not get one because I've heard news that at least every exotic pet has definitely tried to bite or kill their owner at least once. 
Another reason why I think exotic animals should not be pets is because they could be very dangerous to owners. Some people just like exotic animals because they are cool, and also some scientists buy them to learn more about them. I just feel like exotic animals are not safe in regular homes or they were not taught to be in a regular space because they were born to run around and bite their prey.

THIS IS WHY I THINK THAT EXOTIC ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE PETS.

    Prince H.

                    __________________________________

                    

                                        Why Not? 

Michael Jackson had a pet monkey. Owning an exotic animal as a pet is not a new or unique thing. People, including celebrities, have owned all types of exotic animals. I think people should be able to own exotic animals because the animals have protection and someone to take care of them, plus the person can benefit because they can have the company of an animal.

Being a pet means that the exotic animal will be taken care of. First,  the owner would feed the animal and give it water. The exotic animal would not have to worry about hunting or having to find food on its own anymore.

    Secondly, the owner would buy the animal a bed and some toys. The animal would be comfortable and have things to do, plus it would have lots of space if the house had a backyard. Lastly, animals being inside the home gives them protection. They don’t have to worry about hunters or predators because they will be safe inside a home with an owner. 
Owning an exotic animal will be beneficial to the owner. First, owning an exotic pet can keep you company. You will be able to play with the animal. Second, you can train the animal to listen and obey. So, you won’t have to worry about the animal doing anything bad or dangerous. Lastly, the owner can take it for a walk.  Going on walks with the pet is good for the owner because it is helping them to get exercise. 
    In conclusion, people should be able to own exotic pets. Owning an exotic pet can be good for the owner and the pet. The pet will have all its needs met by the person, while the person will have a good companion.

Phamaad G.

                                _____________________________

                                              Tell it Straight

Do you think exotic animals should be kept as pets? If so, why do you think that? But I'm going to be telling you why.  I think people should be able to have exotic animals as pets. I also think people should be able to have exotic animals. Because if you can take care of the exotic animals and you have a stable environment  for the animal to stay, then I don’t think it should be a problem what animal you have. But I’m going to tell you more about having exotic animals and why it should be legal to have them.  

Like owning a panda, pandas aren’t really dangerous to people. For instance pandas are herbivores so you really don’t have to worry about having them trying to bite you because they eat plants. Also animals in the wild have been hunted and killed by humans. For example The gray wolf was almost extinct in the lower 48 states of the United States by the mid 1900s. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, the gray wolf may be well on its way to recovery. This is why humans need to be able to have exotic animals. 

If the animals are left in the wild the animals are going to be driven to extinction. Right now the most hunted animal is the pangolins and if the humans keep killing them or any other animals for that matter most of the animals are going to become extinct or endangered. But if the humans get them out of the wild and take care of them they would take them out of harm's way and they would be out of danger. Anyways humans can train the exotic animals to be friendly and not wild which means to protect and to be loyal to its owner. I have more information about training exotic animals in the next paragraph. 

Fencing is a popular wild animal protection practice for many years this practice has been quite effective on the wild animals. But there are two different types of animal reinforcement. There is negative reinforcement and there is positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is when the owner is yelling or screaming at the animal. Let’s say you get a pet bird and you start screaming at the bird. The bird  gets more aggressive when they hear noise. Positive reinforcement is when you communicate with your animals and explain what’s right and what’s wrong and when the animal does good give them a treat from time to time. 

In conclusion I think exotic animals should be legal and I gave 4 reasons why to support my reasoning. Also humans need to stop hunting them to extinction and start taking care of them. Because once you hunt all the animals there is going to be a food shortage. But if you take care of the animals you don’t have to worry about having a food shortage. Anyways those are all the reasons why I think exotic animals should be legal. 

Melaine H.

                                ________________________________

                                    Fair is Fair

Animals aren't all that bad because they're great pets and sidekicks. I feel like people should be able to own exotic pets.
The reason I feel this way is because if people have the right traits and responsibilities they should be able to have that pet. Another reason why I feel this way is because people say that people shouldn’t be able to own exotic pets because they can mess up your house, which is kind of true but all animals aren’t the same because some are big and some are small. So make sure you make a difference when speaking about exotic animals because you make all of them look bad. 
People should need to have a license to own a certain species because if that animal is poisonous of a danger to the community, in general it should need to have some type of regulations to own that animal. When you hear of people getting attracted by animals it’s not because the animals are just so vicious it’s because the person who owed it wasn’t responsible. For example if a baby was to break a glass you wouldn't blame the baby you would blame whoever was watching the baby.
Animals and exotic animals aren't the same but it's not fair when you hear of people getting  attacked by wild  animals but when people get attacked by dogs they don’t ban dogs and that’s not fair. I get that it’s dangerous but be fair because any animal can be dangerous in any way possible.

Nevaeh J.

            ________________________

                                Exotic Pets

Do you want an exotic animal? Owning an exotic animal is not necessarily a bad thing. There are many benefits to owning an exotic animal, so I think people should be able to own exotic pets because they are unique and offer a unique learning opportunity to people, Plus the exotic animal will now be taken care of by a person and not have to fend for itself. 
Also people can learn a lot by owning an exotic animal. First,  people can learn more about exotic animals by owning one. They can learn about how it reacts to people and what the animal eats and how it is used to living in its environment. It is a way for people to learn about animals they might not be familiar with. Next, it teaches people responsibility because they have to take care of another living thing. Also according to an article from the Pet Health Network, exotic animals tend to live longer when they are well cared for by an owner. Finally, Owning an exotic pet can be fun because it can make people happy. If someone is lonely, it will have the animal as company. 
Living with a person can be good for the animal. First, The animal will now be in a safe place. It will be safe from other animals and hunters. It no longer has to watch its surroundings. Next, the animal doesn’t have to look for food.  The animal is going to get food from its owner. Lastly, the animal will be more comfortable. It will be loved and the owner will treat it right.
In conclusion, I think people should be able to have exotic pets. The owner can learn more about these animals.  Plus, the animal will be taken care of too.

Arionna J.

            

  

Essays

                                                                  Mad! About Science!!

                                                                        by Adam S., Grade 4

A group of mad scientists called Anonymous worked at a university.  They decided to secretly experiment with DNA on one of their own, a professor. They tried to make him stronger but the experiment went wrong. Anonymous changed the professor's DNA and infected it with gorilla and lizard DNA.  When Anonymous figured out their mistake they got rid of all the evidence and disappeared.  

However, the professor got away, but didn’t know what the experiment was about.  Soon after, he started feeling different. He then figured it out, his DNA was altered and he had no idea that he was going to turn into a monster or when it would happen. 

The next day the professor broke into the school looking for any evidence but found none. He then took supplies from the school lab to fix his DNA. Three of his students saw him and were suspicious of his behavior so they decided to follow him. They followed him all the way back to his lab and snuck in. They saw his altered DNA and instantly knew what was wrong and could fix it. 

The professor caught them in his lab and he told them to go away before it was too late.  His students didn't listen and begged   to help. So the professor and his students came up with a plan. 

The professor knew he needed his brother’s DNA to help him change back and realized that his brother had left his toothbrush back at his house.  

All of a sudden the professor transformed into a creature that was part lizard, part gorilla, and part human. He felt immense   pain sharing his mind with different animals. His gorilla side went berserk and started to destroy his house. His lizard side made him run away, Roaming the streets.  Many people saw him and called the police. 

His students figured out a cure but needed his brother's DNA to complete it.  their professor never showed up back at the lab. So they went looking for him and found his house destroyed and they feared that he transformed into a monster. They grabbed the brother’s DNA and went looking for their professor. 

People recognized them and called them “The Nerd Group,” but they called themselves “The Three Scientists.”  Adam, the leader of the group said, 

“Okay let's find him and fix his DNA.” (The other people in the group are Alex and James.)  

James agreed,  “Look there!  He’s leaving a trail of gorilla hair.  “

Let's follow it!”  Alex said.   

They followed the gorilla hair trail.  It led them into an abandoned school building.  They went into the building to look for him but didn't know what to expect. When James saw him, he screamed. Then Adam and Alex screamed and they ran as fast as they could as the professor chased them. Adam said,

“ I have a plan.  Follow me!”   The rest of the group followed him into the cafeteria.  

James threw bananas at the professor.  The professor ran and ate the bananas.  As he was distracted, the Three Scientists ran into the boys bathroom.  James said, “

Were lucky I had bananas with me.” 

Alex said, “ we don’t have a plan.” 

Adam said, “I do!  I think we should inject our last banana with the cure and let him eat it.” 

They walked back to the cafeteria and found the professor eating his last banana. He was getting upset so Adam offered him the banana with the cure. The professor ate the banana. The students did not know if it would work, but shortly after that, the professor changed back to normal.                      

                                                        Rain

                                                            by Adam S. 

Rain is important to our world for many reasons. Not only is rain crucial for our survival but also the survival of crops. Crops need water to survive and grow. Without it, there would be no food for us to eat. 

Too little rain is a problem for farmers because they rely on rain to water their crops. Too little rain can cause a lack of food production which can hurt them financially. Many farmers sell their crops for a profit and too little rain can cause them to lose their job.  

On the other hand, too much rain can cause problems too. One problem is too much water makes the soil saturated, making it too wet for farmers to harvest the crops with their machinery. Farm equipment is heavy, and will get stuck in the field. It can take days for the dirt to dry out and be strong enough to use the machines. Those days off can also cause farmers to lose a lot of money due to the lack of harvest. Soil saturation also causes the soil to lose its nutrients which affects how the plants grow. 

Even though rain is very important for our world, too little or too much can cause many problems for farmers.  

Animal Stories - 1st Person Point of View

                                            Grizzy!

by D. Willis

As the sun started to go down I walked through the meadows starting to feel hungry. I glanced over, and a lake hoping for it to be full of delicious fish. I run over to the lake leaving paw prints from the muddy area near the rocks surrounding the glistening lake.

When looking down in the shiny lake I saw many salmon and other kinds of fish. Once I got closer to the lake to grab a fish, I picked the biggest one. As I took the fish out the water it started to flop rapidly at such a high speed I dropped it back into the water.

I went in the water again to try and catch the salmon but it swam away. I followed the fish outside the water hoping to catch it but something better happened! The salmon led me to a part of the lake full of big fish.  I took the fish and ate happily leaving the lake full.

___________________________________________     

                                The Balloon’s Abditory: Oneirataxia                                                                                               by Sumaira F.

It was just a normal day today, well, for a balloon; floating around in the sky. I see a house that has a cat sitting at the window, so I decide to approach it. 

“Hello cat.” I say to the friendly-looking feline. “Go away, I’m trying to have a nice comfy nap.” The cat hissed, “Oh, ok sorry to bother you.” I mumbled kind of hurt. “Wait, you can understand me?!” At this point I was confused. If the cat thought I couldn’t understand him, then why did it talk to me. 

“Yes, of course I can, why wouldn't I be able to?” “Um... maybe because you're  a human…” the cat uttered. “No I’m not you silly kitty, I’m Sarah! Sarah the balloon! See my string and my red round head?” “But you... nevermind, have a nice day, goodbye.” the cat said. “Bye! Have a nice nap!” and with that I was off.

As I steadily solivagant(Solivagant- to wander alone) through the sky, I see a dog. Specifically a small, black poodle, floating in the sky along with me. As we make eye contact, the dog slowly expands into particles, and swiftly fades away into the wind.  WHAT?! What the heck is going on? The sky turned a rainbow color, the leaves are now flowers, and the hills are now colorful mountains. I watched in awe as asperatus clouds formed above my head.(asperatus clouds are basically big wavy clouds)

To be honest, I was scared. The world I had always known was now gone. I took comfort in the fact that at least this new dimension? Was way better than my world; peaceful, colorful,....euphoric. But that's besides the point, right now I need to find an exit and get back home.

I found myself floating into a garden of sorts.

Colorful statues and plants decorated the garden like I’ve never seen before. It was so surreal and arcane (Arcane- secret;  mysterious and entrancing;beyond ordinary understanding)

.

I decided to approach the prettiest plant in that garden.

 I was unable to express the way the plant made me feel. I stood there, pondering, trying to find a word fit for this recently discovered feeling. Thrilled, elevated, exhilarated, and electrified, those words were suitable enough. I stare at the plant, taking in all of its beauty and glory. The vibrant colors, the different shape of each leaf, and the textures it showed were breathtaking. Literally I forgot to breathe, taking a large gasp realizing...I cannot.I viewed my surroundings, realizing that I was oblivious to the fact that the entire scenery had changed. I hear a *ding* sound, so I look above my head now seeing a helmet appear above me.

I put the helmet on my head, now having a strong desire to travel and explore the spatial setting I was now in. I see many asterisms surrounding me.(Asterism- a group of stars.) There were few words to describe the way I was feeling, but the only words that came to mind were free, carefree or detached. Like I could do anything, like I was the last balloon alive; unstoppable, like anything was possible. I find myself wandering towards a beaming white light. So beautiful, outshining the stars even!; it was the new center of my attention.

I head towards it, the only thing I am able to see is glowing lights as I feel myself blackout. I now hear voices, letting my eyes adjust to the bright light above my head. I feel something at the end of my string but when I looked down, there was no string. Just two limbs, legs. I panicked not knowing what to do.

 I try and sit up, only to find that my...arms? My arms are chained to a bed. Not being able to move my limbs, I pick my head up to view my new setting. I don’t know where I am, I’m scared, I miss the old me. Millions of things rush through my head, I now truly realized what just occurred. Everything that just happened...actually just happened. 

At this point, I can’t tell fantasy from reality. I’m lost, with nowhere to go, no one to talk to, not one familiar thing in sight. I sit there wondering, “Where did everything go wrong?”. Sometimes, we have to go somewhere blindly, knowing nothing about it, and see what happens. The truth is, we all get lost but sometimes getting lost is how we find ourselves. Who knows, maybe this is a new start for me. I should look on the bright side of things! I snap back into reality as I notice there are people with some type of lab jackets and supplies with carts on it. Is this a hospital? Why would I be in a hospital? I look to my left to see a woman and a man now staring at me in...disbelief? “Who are you?” I ask, being frightened to see humans sitting beside me. 

“Oh honey, we are your parents. Do you not recognize us?” the woman questioned with tears now in her eyes. “Um, no I don’t. I don’t have parents. Sorry you have the wrong balloon.” the lady looked at me with shock written all over her face. “Balloon? Oh! My poor baby Sally! John I think she had another episode! Go get the doctor!” What? What do they mean go get the doctor and episode? And who’s Sally? My name is Sarah...right?...... As that same question remains in my mind, never getting its answer.

I wonder,  will they ever find this Sally girl?

Did you figure it out? Who is Sally? What is “Sarah’s” problem? I’ll leave that question for you to figure out on your own;)

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                    The Grey Doug 

                                                                              by Joseph P.

.

Hello, my name is Doug! Doug the bird. I always watch the people who take care of me. I think they do too much work. They shouldn’t be giving me all these brown pebbles that really taste good when I don’t get hungry as much as usual. So I just don’t eat until I’m hungry, which is every five hours. I hear them talking about how I don’t eat much. It makes me sad that they think that I don’t eat alot when I eat just enough food every day! But sometimes I try to tell them that I ate enough, but they don’t listen to me.

 You might be asking how I talked but it’s obvious that I am a parrot! A Grey African Parrot to be exact! I said, “I eat well, don’t overfeed me.” but they always reply, “ Did Doug just talk?” to my other parents. I always say this to both of them but they won’t listen to me! The small parents always know what I say so they tell the big parents but they won’t listen to them.

 They’d most likely say, “Oh, it might’ve just been a dream because birds can’t talk!” I always take offense to that because obviously birds can talk. I can talk, so others can too. I would be in better care in the small parents hands more than the big parents hands. Now to think of it, I think the small parents are children and the big parents are adults that are actually parents.

 When I found that out I ran away because it was confusing. They opened the door so I flew. Now I live on the blue, rusty rooftop with pigeons that are good friends and understand me for who I am! I miss them but I see them every day looking for me. I said bye to my new friends and flew back inside.

When they saw me, they were so relieved. They must’ve thought I died! Well, I am so happy I am reunited with them. When the children saw me they thought it wasn’t me at first. I talked to them and the parents finally heard me speak and the children of course did too! Yay! We are going to be a happy family!

I thought that until I saw another bird that was grey inside the room. That might be why they thought it wasn’t me at first. I had to fight this ripoff of me and I won. He ran away from me. I would have beat him up again. If another bird takes my property it would go right back out crying. 

I did this all for my family. It made the little kids respect me more. The big parents are kind of mad at me. They should’ve thought about putting another bird in the house. We can be a happy family without the cowardly parents.

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                 The Purple Howl    

                                                                     by Jaelynn T.

Once upon a time, I was a little wolf cub, named Luna, who was at the bottom of the pack. Always picked on and just overall scared. I wanted to overcome that fear, I dreamt of it every night. Thinking day and night about how to become powerful and not more fragile. 

My mother and father always told me to keep my head up and keep achieving small goals, to achieve my most essential goal. As the days and the horrible hours went by, I became stronger and stronger, to the point where I was almost at the top. But there was one small problem, Lobo, my older brother. He always had to be on top, he was the most powerful wolf because he had a very strong power. He had Pyrokinesis, which means he had the ability to control fire with his mind. He has protected our pack for centuries and has never been beaten. I was always brought down by Lobo, no matter what the situation was. 

Once Lobo said, “Luna, just give up. You will never achieve any big or small goals.” So, that’s why I have been trying to get to the top. Not just to be at the top to show people I am fearless, also to get revenge on my brother. 

The next couple of days, I was hiking by myself in the muddy and wet rainforest, right below my mountain. While hiking I had stumbled upon a bush of berries. I was starving and I needed something to eat. They looked strange because they were purple and blue, and they were glowing. But I didn’t hesitate to eat them, my stomach had been rumbling and making strange noises for the entire trip. So, when I ate them I went back up to the mountain to take a quick nap. Several hours later, I woke up, walking to the restroom to go wash my furry face off. As soon as I saw myself in the mirror, I gasped and passed out. Minutes later I was still on the floor. I got up and looked again, I said, “Oh my... Why am I PURPLE AND BLUE, and why am I glowing..” “The berries!” I said. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten those berries. When I went out of the door I was trying to walk out, but my humongous wings were blocking the doorway. I didn’t realize it until I turned around once again and saw my giant wings. I had a surprised face but just let it be. 

As the days went on I discovered new powers, which were FFlight, gGrowth in size, and shrinking in size. After that, she wanted to battle her brother, and she did. After the long training, she finally built up enough strength and courage to fight her brother and become the leader. You might think being the leader, is just about strength but it’s not. It’s about your problem-solving skills, and if you will make sacrifices for your pack. So, when I challenged my brother the fight was hard, but I was wise enough to beat him. 

When I was on top, I felt free. I felt like nothing could get in my way. When I went to my cave I saw my mother sleeping, and I walked over to her. My mother started rolling and FELL OFF THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTAIN! I panicked but I managed to spread my wings and dash down to save her. When I came back up I saw my father and brother standing there in shock. As I placed my mother down, she woke up being clueless and had no idea what happened. So, my mother asked, “Hm? What happened?” I said, “Nothing mother everything will be alright.”  From that point on I used her problem-solving skills to help my pack, but not just my pack, my family.

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                          Black Cat

Hello can you see me no you can’t….. SURPRISE it's me Knight. I will tell you how I cause noise in the night. The night starts me waking up in the night (cats are nocturnal) as I am waking my other siblings to keep begging to sleep with our owner. Meanwhile I was walking and running around the house, although I was having fun I was feeling like making a mess. When I got to the kitchen I started messing around with the pots and dropping them on the floor. No one could see me because my fur is black and dark like the night. Although I look like the night, they can still trick me with my favorite food like tuna. When my owners finally got me out of the kitchen they put me back on the bed so I can sleep. After they left I got back up and started to run around for an hour until I got bored. Since I got bored so fast, I wanted to cause more trouble. I decided to scratch the furniture. I had to be quick because my owners have cameras everywhere, so I have to be sneaky. While I was sneaking around the cameras, I noticed that one of my sibling’s kittens escaped. I started to panic, so I tried to look for her, but i couldn’t find her. After an hour of looking I finally found her. She looked calm and I saw the kitten that escaped. It looked like she got it first. After that I noticed that the sun was about to come up, and I was sleepy so I went to sleep to enjoy the sleeping. Now you know the story about me being a cat in the night. I told how cats are loud and ruin furniture. Also how cats can be really mean. Lastly they can really be cute and innocent, but they can cause a ruckus.

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                                             The Funny Bearded Dragon

                                  by Mukayla A.

                                

Hello! No don't be scared, I know I might look scary but I’m not, I’m actually really friendly! In that case I'll tell you a little about myself.

I'm a bearded dragon of course. My owner named me Mushu! If you think you heard that name before you probably did. I'm named after the dragon from Mulan. I also like to be funny. So here is a story about how I found my owner.

One day in a dried out place was an unnamed juvenile bearded dragon, she had no family after her mother got taken away for a pet shop. She wanted to make a name after herself before going to the pet shop as well.

She went up to a bearded dragon named skull and tried to show it a magic trick, but skull said that he didn't like it. So Mushu just moved along. Then he came across another bearded dragon named Trix. She was Mushu’s friend.

She tried to show Trix her singing skills, but Trix said “Mushu… I don't think singing is your thing.” Mushu sighed and walked away. She went under her rock. She always sleeps there.

But in the morning she didn't wake up there. She was in a big glass tank with one other bearded dragon. She went over to ask where she was “Hey you, Where am I?” And the other bearded dragon said, “You're at the pet shop!” Mushu was shocked her mom said the juvenile beardies can't be at the shop.

A few days passed until a woman and two girls came into the shop. They walked over to Mushu’s tank. She couldn't understand human language so she didn't know what the family and the shop worker was talking about. But she was excited because she felt like the family was going to take her

But a couple of minutes later and they left with nothing but dog treats. That's when Mushu lost hope. But then the same family came the next day and went back to Mushu. The youngest daughter was talking to Mushu. And then that's when Mushu felt a hand picking her up. 

She was getting adopted! She was so happy. When they arrived at her new home it took a while for the family to set up her tank, But when it was done Mushu liked it.

Mushu finally had a goal, And it was to make her owner laugh. The owner was the youngest daughter. One day they were watching Teen Titans Go and any time a raven part would come up, Mushu would run around in circles. And that made the girl laugh.