1

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

STREETSQUASH AND CANTEEN MAGAZINE PRESENT:

canTeensWRITING AND ART BY HARLEM SEVENTH GRADERS

ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2012 $6

JAYLENE BADILLOCALEB BASCOKEVAL BLAKE

RODNEY BRENTKIRAN BUDHIRAJA

TYRELL CARILLORICHARD FAGAN

NASIR FINCHKIONNE HENDRICKSON

SHANE HOFFMANJUSTIN JAMESTREVOR LAING

JUSTEN MARRERO OULI NDAW

TIMOTHY PARKERCHEYENNE PAUL JA’YRIL PELTON

STEPHANIE POLANCOLESLIE RODRIGUEZ

ANDY ROSARIOKYLON ROSE

SAMIA STEWARTNAKAYLA TAYLOR

canTeens

SUMMER 2012

PHOTO BY

OULI

4

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

This publication is the result of a partnership between StreetSquash and Canteen magazine. Canteen’s writers, artists, and editors teach writing and photography to seventh-graders in StreetSquash’s after-school program in Harlem, NY. Our partnership encourages students to embrace writing as an activity that can be fun, with the idea that enjoyment is the best motivator. Improved writing skills not only prepare our students for higher education and a wide array of career opportunities, but also provide a healthy outlet for self-expression.

To learn more about us, visit streetsquash.org and canteenmag.com.

DIRECTORSGeorge Polsky (StreetSquash) Stephen Pierson (Canteen)Jessie Taylor (Canteen)

DESIGNMike SidowStephen Pierson

REACTIONSWe’d be glad to hear from you at info@streetsquash.org or info@canteenmag.com.

StreetSquash40 West 116th StreetNew York, NY 10026

© 2012 Canteen Arts Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in Canada by Printcrafters

TEACHERS Jessie TaylorStephen PiersonEvan McCuneLee Bob BlackCici MathenyJessie KleinRich BenjaminPorochista Khakpour

Canteen96 Pierrepont St., #4Brooklyn, NY 11201

SAMIA, RODNEY, NASIR, KIONNE, KYLON, STEPHANIE, TIMOTHY, JUSTEN

KIRAN, KIONNE, OULI, TIMOTHY

SAMIA, TIMOTHY, STEPHANIE, SHANE NAKAYLA, RODNEY, NASIR, JUSTEN,

CALEB, LESLIE, TREVOR

JA’YRIL, SHANE, RODNEY, KEVAL TYRELL, CALEB, RICHARD,

NAKAYLA, KIONNE, LESLIE

RODNEY, NASIR, TIMOTHY, JA’YRIL, ANDY, KYLON

TREVOR, RICHARD, KEVAL, NAKAYLA

SAMIA, NAKAYLA, SHANE TREVOR, RICHARD

CHEYENNE, SAMIA, SHANE, NAKAYLA

TIMOTHY

SUMMER 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

canTeens

4 POETRY

175 ADVICE FOR GRANDCHILDREN

26 FICTION

588 SIX WORD MEMOIRS

63 CAMPAIGN SPEECHES

71 DEAR NEW YORK

78 ART REVIEWS 84 RIDDLES

88 REGRETS

92 STUDENTS

96 THANK YOU

FRONT COVER: NASIR

BACK COVER: JUSTIN

PHOTOS: OULI (1, 33), KIONNE (4), STEPHANIE (10, 44), KYLON (14, 67, 76),

TREVOR (19, 88, 91), NASIR (20, 48), LESLIE (26), OULI (33),

NAKAYLA (40), RODNEY (53), KEVAL (54), RICHARD (61), SHANE (62),

TIMOTHY (70), SAMIA (73), JA’YRIL (90)

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TREVORPHOTO BY

KIRON

6

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

KIONNE

7

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

POETRY

8

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

My home is a nice homeno cold and no moldgreetings out of every door.The smell of chicken praying forthe grilling to stopThe sound of video gamesfill my ears. My sister’s constant chattingalways nagged me.The sound of the birds chirping and the laughs that tell“no worries” come from outside.My home is a nice home.

SAMIAHOME

9

PO

ETRY

RO

DN

EY

Movin to the ghetto,Is that guy lookin at me?Oh, ok.Why do all these darn elevators smell of pee?

Movin to the ghetto,Why is that guy still lookin at me? Oh ok,Bum who used to live on the street.

Movin to the ghetto,I can’t believe that guy is STILL lookin at me Oh, ok,Gangs selling drugs everywhere, can’t you see?

Movin to the ghettoOMG, STOP LOOKING AT ME!Damn,I’m outta here, I’ve gotta go pee.

RODNEYMOVIN TO THE GHETTO

10

PO

ETRY

NASIR

NASIRIT’S ALWAYS ME

It’s always me

Every time I ask for homework

or what we are doing

It’s always me.

The teachers need better eyes

Because when I don’t talk

I get caught

But when I do talk, nothing happens.

That’s true

It’s always me.

Ain’t that some crap.

Like when we had to do that project for class

And I asked for crayons

From all this you could just guess what the teacher was going to do:

That old teacher called home

And I had to stay after school.

But why, why,

WHY!

It’s ALWAYS me.

11

NASIR

PO

ETRY

If I die and I’m good I will come back, but no one knows for sure.

It’s all opinions, not facts.

You know it’s in your life Death.

Don’t know how to change my fate and make it right.

Death can be natural.

Or it can come from choosing the wrong path.

Death’s not cool, death is only sad.

So you better watch how you live because death is coming for your a__.

NASIRDEATH

12

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

13

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

PHOTO BY

STEPHANIE

14

PO

ETRY

KIO

NN

E

Sleep is a short-term coma.

People are always talking about such great dreams and nightmares they have.

But I’m a realist.

I only dream about the next day or what I want to do with my life.

I don’t think about being a superhero or a fairy princess.

Maybe my imagination is out of whack.

Or maybe I’m just too mature for my age.

But I know thinking about how it would be to own an apartment seems more fun than being superman.

KIONNESLEEP

15

PO

ETRY

KIO

NN

E

Bare feet touching the freezing Arctic waters.

Goosebumps so hard they feel like boulders.

Stones in the water so sharp like chopping knives.

Tides so strong

like getting trampled by an elephant.

Wet clothes so heavy they weigh a ton.

Old man screaming at me

for a backyard he doesn’t own.

Four stacks of pizza couldn’t finish through.

Using vans as locker rooms,

and guess what,

you always get a wandering peeker looking at you.

KIONNEUNTITLED

PHOTO BY

KYLON

17

PO

ETRY

KYLO

N

Different colors but it’s all black and white.

A black Joker betrays a black Knight the same way a black Knight betwayed a black Joker. Does it make them alike?

I guess not, at least that’s what I thought.

KYLON BLACK AND WHITE

18

PO

ETRY

STEPH

AN

IE

It’s been a long timeIn the hot dessert.

I miss my family.

I wonder wherethey are now.

Are they happy? Arethey sad?

Where’s my Mom and Where’s my Dad?

Wow it’s hot,feels like I’m on the Sun.

STEPHANIEMIRAGE

19

PO

ETRY

TIM

OTH

Y

Celebrities walk on red carpet cuz they’re famous. But me and my firnds walk on toilet paper cuz we’re the spit.

We walk down the street in a pack looking our best letting haters talk their smack.

Getting ready for our future Getting ready for our wives Getting ready for six crappy hours of our lives.

TIMOTHY FRIEND LIVES

20

PO

ETRY

JUSTEN

I live off the top of my head sometimes,I just wish I was deadthen all you will see is red.Yeah I know you heard what I said.

I hate the faith of baseball,When the umpire says “safe,”which you’re notwhen you come around my block.

JUSTENSAFE

PHOTO BY

TREVOR

22

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

ADVICE TO MY GRANDCHILDREN

23

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

ADVICE TO MY GRANDCHILDREN

PHOTO BY

NASIR

24

KIR

AN

AD

VIC

E T

O G

RAN

DC

HIL

DREN

Dear Granddaughter,

If I was to give you one bit of advice, it would be this: Always stand

up for whatever you believe. Believe in yourself and always voice your

opinions about things. You are the voice of the new generation, and

your opinions matter.

When I was in middle school, I always wondered if I should sign up

for the school play or be part of the student council. But I never had

the belief in myself to do those things. Even though that was a very

long time ago, I still regret not doing those things when I was young.

It took me a long time to realize that it doesn’t matter what people

think of you. Now my attitude is, if I want to voice my opinion, I will.

I hope you learn these lessons much earlier than I did. If you do, you’ll

be much happier and won’t have all the regrets that I have.

Sincerely,

Your Grandma Kiran

KIRAN

24

AD

VIC

E T

O G

RAN

DC

HIL

DREN

KIO

NN

E

25

Dear Grandson,

Your father told me that you want to be a writer, but that you have no

inspiration. I was a writer once, when I was much younger. I started

out right around the time I met your grandmother. Well, I got a

job at the Daily Tribune. Or was it the New York Post? I can never

remember anything these days. But that’s besides the point.

The job was great. But after a while I started running out of ideas.

Lost my inspiration. So I had to go out into the world and find

something to write about. After a year of wandering the world and

writing about what I saw, I needed to slow down. I didn’t know what

to tell my boss.

So I went to my psychiatrist. She talked to my boss and got my job

changed to a reporter covering local events. I thank her for this—it

changed my life, and I was happy again.

Why am I telling you this? I can’t remember the point. Oh, right—

the point is, just find what you want to do, and don’t get stuck doing

things that make you unhappy.

Your grandfather,

Kionne

KIONNE

25

AD

VIC

E T

O G

RAN

DC

HIL

DREN

26

OU

LI

Dear Granddaughter,

My lovely, never ever let a man put his hands on you in a violent way. If you do, I will hit you myself.

The first time a man hit me, I was 16 years old. I know it was a long time ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. When he hit me his hands were so big, and I fell down and was in so much pain. I came home with a big black eye. My mother asked me how it happened. I said that I hit myself. See—the worst lie ever.

Two weeks later I came home again with another black eye. My mom—your great-grandmother—knew what had happened. So she talked to me and I told her the truth. She told me I needed to break up with him, so I did. Then my older brother kicked his black butt, till he apologized and said he’d never hurt me again.

Anyway, all I’m saying to you, granddaughter, is don’t ever let a man put his hands on you. If they ever do, I might be old, but I’ll take care of them all by myself.

Sincerely,Your favorite Grandmother, Ouli

OULI

26

27

TIM

OTH

YAD

VIC

E T

O G

RAN

DC

HIL

DREN

Dear Grandson,

Make a good impression. On your family, friends, and even me.

Come into this world trying to prove others wrong. Be bright and

good looking. Be “that guy.” That guy who brightens a sad mood,

who walks when the world runs. Who screams at the top of his

lungs when everyone else is quiet as a peep. Be the cool guy or the

therapist who everyone looks up to. Whatever you are, just make

a good impression.

Your Grandfather,

Timothy

TIMOTHY

27

28

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

FICTION: FIRST PAGES OF NOVELS

PHOTO BY

LESLIE

29

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

FICTION: FIRST PAGES OF NOVELS

30

SAM

IAFIC

TIO

N

SAMIA LIFE BEFORE TELEVISION

1775. It was a cold, windy day – the radios were broadcasting. This was the everyday routine: wake up, turn on the radios, listen to the news. Us kids never liked radios and always had the habit of dozing off while listening to blah, blah, blah. There were always people talking about weather and things only adults like.

But what if there was a way to bring plays and radios to life? No more listening to what’s going on. Instead, people could act it out. No more having to look “alive” when really I’m bored out of my mind, listening to radios. It could be on a screen. If there was only a way to record the things we do. Put ‘em on a screen, and show them off. A way to make photography move— that would transform the world into something!

I wanted to brainstorm, so I started to doodle my ideas. I tried planning it out like an architect. Fail! I drew out my school’s play of “Santa Clause,” just as a way to make these pictures move. I never got the idea and ended up just running the pages through my fingers. I watched as the pictures moved before my eyes. I watched as the pictures moved before my eyes. I kept repeating that sentence in my head.

31

TIM

OTH

YFIC

TIO

N

TIMOTHY ARRESTED

As I was walking with the older kids, thinking I was cool and all, I noticed it was 10:00 a.m., and I was supposed to be at school by 8:30. I knew I was going to be in so much trouble, so I decided to just enjoy myself considering I was already outside. As I was having fun, I noticed familiar-looking people in familiar uniforms. It was School Safety, and they did not have good looks on their faces. Before I knew it, I was thrown into the back of a cop car. I knew this would ruin any future plans I had going. This was the time I got arrested, A.K.A. the worst day of my life.

I was arrested for disturbing the peace even though the neighborhood wasn’t peaceful.

(To be continued...)

32

STEPH

AN

IEFIC

TIO

N

STEPHANIE

Girl: Grandma, will you tell me a bedtime story?

Grandma: Are you sure? You’re already twelve years old.

Girl: Yeah, Grandma, it doesn’t matter.

Grandma pulls up a chair.

Grandma: What story should I tell?

Girl: Anything.

Grandma: I knew a girl a few years ago—his young girl, she was beautiful with hazel eyes and black hair. She kind of looked like you.

Girl: Really, Grandma?

Grandma: Yes. She was seventeen, but even though she was beautiful, she used to do drugs.

Girl: Why?

Grandma: I never really knew why, but she did. Wait, before I say anything, never take drugs. Trust me.

33

FIC

TIO

NSTEPH

AN

IE

Girl: Okay, grandma.

Grandma: Where were we in the story?

Girl: You said the woman took drugs.

Grandma: Right, right. So the woman took drugs. Sadly one day the woman took too much drugs. She went walking near the river. She was still drugged, and she threw herself, and that’s how she died. She drowned.

Girl: Grandma, what was her name?

Grandma: Are you sure you want to know?

Girl: Yes.

Grandma: Her name was Tatiana.

Girl: Wasn’t my mom named Tatiana?

Grandma: Yes, that was her name...

34

TIM

OTH

YFIC

TIO

N

TIMOTHY

As I was leaving the hospital, all I could think of was thanking god about how I was safe and healthy (well, somewhat healthy). I wanted revenge and I knew that, somehow, someway, I was going to get it.

So I put on the right attitude and the right game face, because I was ready for war. Everything was ready, but the only problem was that I wasn’t. I couldn’t convince myself to go through with it. I had the right state of mind, the right weapons, but I just couldn’t build the courage to kill someone, no matter how hard he tried to hurt me.

He was my father for God’s sake! The man I was supposed to look up to. The man I was supposed to talk to when I was going through hard times. And he sacrificed me because he couldn’t pay back his loan to the loan sharks.

Now I think of him not as a father, or even a human being. And, honestly, as less than a man. I can’t bring myself to hurt him—that would be stooping to his level. But, even though by record he is listed as my father, from now on he will only be a total stranger to me.

PHOTO BY

OULI

36

SH

AN

EFIC

TIO

N

SHANE:

FOUR INTRODUCTIONS TO NOVELS

1

I remember that night like it had just happened. Me and my brothers were tortured in that place for seven long years. But we managed to escape. His name was Anthony Evans. He was just like us. A mutant. A freak of nature. We don’t know what happened to him after the night he helped break us out. We live in this huge house with my two younger brothers Seth and Marcus. I, being the oldest, must take the responsibility around the house. I’m sixteen, Seth is fourteen, and Marcus is twelve. Earlier I said we were mutants. You might assume we have like powers or something like that. Well we do. Marcus has animal-like abilities. Seth has electrical abilities. I, having the worst of the bunch, have enhanced human senses and can also change the density of my molecules.

37

SH

AN

EFIC

TIO

N

2

Man, were we stupid. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning. It was a nice morning until my friend Chris came over. He said he had some sort of invention. I should’ve ignored him. He had made a time machine. We went back to 1954. We did something – I don’t know what, but we did something bad. I know because when we got back we came back to a world in ruins. A world with no time machine and no way to fix our mistake.

3

(same story as #2, but from the perspective of a different character)

Our home is gone. What a disaster. Wait I should start from the beginning. My name is Chris. I am an inventor. I had just finished making a time machine when my friend Alex walked in. I had explained to him that it was a time machine and how it worked. But all he cared about was if it worked. How dare he ask me such a question! I am Chris: The Greatest Inventor EVER! We tried it out going through the ages. But there must’ve been something that we did. Because when we got back to our time, we were astounded by what we found. A world that was abandoned and in ruins. And to add to that the time machine is out of juice. And with the world like this, there is no way to charge it. So we are stuck here. … FOREVER!

38

SH

AN

EFIC

TIO

N

4

I used to be a regular, just like everyone else. But that all changed on “Doomsday.” But I think I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s just start this at the beginning.

It was a calm Saturday morning. Everything seemed to be peaceful. That was until I turned on the news. “Meteor shower headed our way!” the news reporter screamed. I thought that it would be pretty cool to see a meteor shower for the first time.

I flipped through more channels looking for something decent to watch. Nothing. So I turned off the TV and just sat there with my dog, Thor.

A week later I went to New York with Thor and my friend Alex to go see the meteor shower. We thought it would be cool, but we were wrong. The meteors didn’t just pass overhead—they hit the Earth. In fact, they hit everywhere. All the major cities in the world, including where we were.

The world had fallen into dark times. Most people who were in the areas of the meteors died. Just a few were lucky to be alive. But the people who survived soon realized that they were transforming, becoming less human-like. Including me and Alex.

I first realized my new abilities when I returned to school, and my

39

SH

AN

EFIC

TIO

N

writing hand suddently just disappeared. I didn’t realize it at the time, but these things were happening for a reason.

I went home from school early that day. At home, my hand suddenly reappeared, but I thought I must simply be going crazy, so I went to sleep.

“Wake up, wake up.” I heard a voice.

When I opened my eyes all I saw was Thor sitting at the bottom of my bed. I was confused—where was the voice coming from. Then Thor opened his mouth and said, “Oh good, you’re up.”

I thought I must be hallucinating. But then I realized that if the asteroids gave me powers, then they must’ve given Thor powers, too! And I realized that Alex must also be going through the same thing.

I wondered if I could fly. So I walked up to my roof and jumped off. As soon as I jumped I realized that if I couldn’t fly, I would probably die when I hit the ground. So I closed my eyes and hoped that it wouldn’t hurt when I finished falling. Then, with my eyes still closed, I realized that I had been falling for a very long time now...

40

FIC

TIO

NN

AKAYLA

NAKAYLA

It was an ordinary day in Johanise Capicino. The sun was shining. It was May 21. In Johanise Cap-cino there are vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and also normal people. But vampires don’t feed on the normal people. Instead the normal people travel to other countries to bring them back blood.

In Johanise Capcino there is 24 hours of sunlight. The only time it gets cold is December through January. When it does it only drops to 83°. There’s candy everywhere and low prices. The ruler’s name is Nakayla Taylor. That’s me, your narrator. I will tell you this story about my great land.

It had been the queen’s birthday. The queen was a vampire. All the people had been celebrating for a week. Just when the celebration had gotten ex-citing, when the guards walked in to congratulate her, they saw the smallest of tears run down her eye. There had been a kidnapping. They called this theft The Disappearance.

41

FIC

TIO

NN

AKAYLA

All day the king and queen thought about The Dis-appearance. When they were trying to go to sleep, the queen heard something and saw the king slid-ing out of bed. The queen followed him and saw him run out into the night wearing all black cloth-ing.

The next morning the queen did not say anything about what she saw. That day she acted as if she were in a great mood. She did this to get everyone’s mood up and to try to forget about what she had seen.

(To be continued...)

42

FIC

TIO

NN

AKAYLA

43

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

PHOTO BY

NAKAYLA

44

FIC

TIO

NR

OD

NEY

RODNEY

“It’s ok you won’t get pregnant. Our friend had sex tons of times and she is not pregnant,” Justice said in a reassuring way to McKenna.

“Ok baby make me feel good,” McKenna said to Justice. McKenna met Justice when they were in the seventh grade and they began dating in the eighth grade. Now they are nineteen and sexually active with each other.

Justice is caucasian with blonde hair and two lip piercings. Justice has a bad attitude and cares about nothing besides his love for McKenna. McKenna is a Caucasian brunette who is very conceited. The only thing she cares about more than herself is her lover Justice.

Now it is two weeks later and McKenna is pregnant. McKenna wants an abortion but Justice vetoes all possibilities of it.

“Are you serious right now? Do you have to carry this baby in your stomach for nine months? No!” McKenna said to Justice.

“Well I don’t give a damn that is my baby and you are not going to kill it. That’s it end of discussion,” Justice explained to McKenna as he walks away.

But before he could get anywhere McKenna’s mom stopped him. “Lis-ten here little boy, my daughter is in this because of you and horniness.

45

FIC

TIO

NR

OD

NEY

So if you walk out that door right now then you leave us to make whatever choices that we want to make,” McKenna’s mom told Justice.

Justice tells McKenna’s mom, “I’m gonna walk out the door regardless of what you say. So, listen closely if you dare threaten to do something to my child, I will be forced to take a face of action.”

“Come tomorrow your child will be aborted, point, blank, period. That is the end of discussion.”

SLAP!!!! “Mom are you ok?” McKenna asks her mother.

“Move woman!” PUNCH!!! SLAP!!! KICK!!!

3 YEARS LATER:

Now Justice and McKenna’s baby is three years old. He was born 5lb 7oz. Justice apologized to McKenna’s mom. Now they are living happy ever after.

46

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

STEPHANIE

47

CREATIV

E W

RIT

ING

48

FIC

TIO

NN

ASIR

NASIRDUMMY-MAN

It was a nice and sunny day at the park. There was a man and a dummy putting on a show, and charging money for it. The man asked for a volunteer. A boy stepped forward. He asked the boy to put his finger in the dummy’s mouth. Then the dummy snapped his mouth shut and bit off the boy’s finger. Everybody screamed and ran, but not before the man had sto-len everyone’s money. The boy did not escape.

The man tied up the boy with the strings used to control the dummy. The man began to flee with the dummy and the tied-up boy. But someone had called the cops. As the cops came up, a bullet flew through the air. Then...poof, smoke filled the air around the man, and he was gone.

The cops asked people for a description. They told the cops: “It was creepy, because the man looked like a dummy—he had the same makeup and face as a dummy.”

So the newspapers the next day referred to him as “Dummy-Man.” But his real name was Rex Worthingham. He was ad-dicted to ventriloquism and science. Last March 3rd every-thing went wrong for Rex. His science experiment spilled on

49

FIC

TIO

NN

ASIR

him while he was testing new ventriloquism methods. He then looked in the mirror and screamed: he had become a dummy.

He didn’t know what to do and didn’t have any money to de-sign new experiments to change himself back. Plus, Lydia, the girl of his dreams, would never accept him if he remained a dummy. So Rex decided to put on false shows and steal peo-ple’s money in order to design experiments to change himself back to normal.

To be continued!

50

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

NASIR

51

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

52

FIC

TIO

NN

AKAYLA

NAKAYLA

One day I was walking down the street and saw a mysterious box. It was a dark shade of purple and had shooting stars on it. So with a devilish look I picked it up and ran. I ran home with the box inside my coat. It was a mild Saturday.

I ran home and went to my room. When I opened it I saw a wand inside. So I grabbed the wand and then saw a note that read: “This is a magic wand. It can do anything you want. Please be careful.”

So first I thought about money. Turns out you need to concentrate. So after a while it finally worked, and got $100,000. I used this money to travel to L.A. where I started a new and exicting life, and even met Justin Bieber.

(To be continued...)

53

FIC

TIO

NJU

STEN

JUSTEN

There once was a boy named Kidd, and he had a friend named Play. They were flat broke. They had no jobs. So since Kidd was the smart one, he searched all around for a job. As for Play, he walked around for some peo-ple to hustle.

Kidd woke up one morning to find Play gambling in front of his house. Play won and got into a fight when the guy wanted to get his money back. The guy counted to three.

Kidd shouted, “Play, give him his money!”

But Play didn’t, and the guy got to three. Then the guy pulled out a gun and said, “Yo, give me my money!” Play said, “No.” The guy said, “alright.” Then BANG! Kidd closed his eyes. When he finally opened his eyes he looked down and saw Play dead on the front porch.

Kidd fainted. Then he woke up...

54

FIC

TIO

NTR

EVO

R

TREVOR BLOBBIES

One day I woke up and I did not look the same. I had turned into a gray blob. I walked outside and saw that everybody looked exactly like me. I was a gray dot in a world with no colors. The entire world was filled with nothing but gray Blobbies.

The feeling swept over me that I was not special anymore. So I ran around hoping to find something to make me different. But everything was the same.

I ran around for hours and hours. Just when I was about to give up I saw a strange light coming from the ground not far from me. When I got closer, I saw that the light was coming from a magic wand. I picked up the wand, thinking that this wand was my only chance to return to normal. To be become different again.

Just then, from out of nowhere, a Blobbie zpped me! It stung me, took my wand, and left me on the ground. This blob didn’t know that he just started a WAR...

55

FIC

TIO

NJU

STEN

PHOTO BY

RODNEY

56

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

KEVAL

57

FIC

TIO

NC

ALEB

CALEB

On a bright sunny day I found a forest completely untouched by civilization. I walked into the forest and in the middle, where the sun touched the ground, I saw 100,000,000 trees filled with $100 each.

I started to climb the trees so I could pick them. Pluck pluck pluck as I take each $100. When I got home I bought everything I could see (Xbox 360, PS3, etc.).

My mom asked if I had stolen the money to buy the stuff, but I said no. I told everybody that in the deep forest there are trees that grow money. I took my mom and she took all the money she could get, and the next day we were living in a mansion.

The next day my dog was digging and stopped all of a sudden. I looked in and saw gold. I told my mom and we took out every pound. I took my share and she took hers.

Life is good when you have money.

58

FIC

TIO

NLESLIE

LESLIE

One dark night at camp we were on a hike in the woods. We were going to walk through the woods where I knew that the camp counselors were hiding, waiting to scare us. I didn’t want to go be-cause I would get scared and jump and scream. So I walked away and went to my cabin. I heard everyone screaming in the distance and I thought, “Oh, I wish I had gone,” because they sounded like they were having fun. Instead I just went to the cabin and sat on my bed.

Later that night, I was laying on my bed and thinking about a scary story the counselors told us that day. Years ago a counselor named Jack Straw died on that same night, at midnight. Since then, he would go to each cabin and watch the campers sleeping.

Then, out of nowhere, there was banging on the cabin walls, com-ing from outside, and my roommate started jumping to everyone’s bed and waking them up. Everyone thought it was people outside the cabin... But is was actually Jack Straw.

59

FIC

TIO

NLESLIE

Jack straw leapt into the cabin and grabbed two girls and took them down to the lake with him. He told them, “Get into the lake!” So they took a few steps into the lake, and then Jack pushed them into the water and drowned them. Then he took their dead bodies and buried them underneath his cabin.

When the other counselors found the bodies, weeks later, they fired Jack.

But now I heard more banging on my cabin door. And I woke up to see everyone returning from their walk in the woods. It was all just a nightmare!

60

SIX

WO

RD

MEM

OIR

S

SIX WORD MEMOIRS

JA’YRIL

I enjoy being an optimistic Leo.

My dream job is an architect.

Dodgeball is my favorite sport ever.

Ja’yril was hit with a ball.

RODNEY

Being me is my only thing.

Six word memoirs, who needs it?

Emotions make me unfortunately so angry.

LESLIE

My first communion and confirmation: exciting

61

SHANE

I say siblings are pure evil.

Always drew, now I can write.

I eat spirits, call me PacMan.

I’m better than you at squash.

KEVAL

Jamaica is nice with many trees.

I don’t give trouble to anybody.

I love playing soccer in Jamaica.

KIONNE

So many apartments, can’t find mine.

Making apple pies while square dancing.

SIX

WO

RD

MEM

OIR

S

62

SIX

WO

RD

MEM

OIR

S

TYRELL

My life is very challenging yearly.

I like to read good books.

RICHARD

Kindergarten is the best grade ever.

Squash is the best sport ever.

CALEB

Youngest out of five: not fun.

I see a lot of dead people.

NAKAYLA

My favorite shape is the heart.

My family lied about Santa Claus.

63

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

PHOTO BY

RICHARD

64

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

SHANE

65

CAM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

RO

DN

EY

CAMPAIGN:ELECTION SPEECHES

RODNEY

I am Rodney Brent, Jr. I am running for President. While I was growing up, I experienced many bad situations that left me very unsettled. I always wished I could prevent them, and this is my way of trying to prevent others from having to go through the things I went through. If you vote for me as president, you will see that I care for the people and their issues. I will make a difference in your life.

There are a couple of things I would like to start off with. Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated. If you are accused of abuse, there will be thorough a investigation. And if you are found guilty, you might have to face the death penalty.

Second: Every type of smoking will be banned. But, most of all, cigarettes. Cigarettes kill people. And even if you’re not a smoker, you can still die by inhaling the smoke of others—which is called second-hand smoking.

Finally, the most unacceptable crime under my presidency will be rape. Raping is the number one thing that will be illegal and prosecuted. It will not just be illegal, it will be a felony with the possibility of a death sentence. Rape destroys people’s lives, and I won’t allow it while I am President.

Vote for me. I guarantee you a stress-free life, with society’s major problems under control—at least while I am President. Please remember my name: Rodney Brent, Jr.

66

CAM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

NASIR

NASIR

My name is Nasir Finch, I’m from Harlem New York, I’m 35 years old, I’m rich, and I’m running for President of the United States. I know the responsibilities involved in being President, but I don’t care because I want to help my fellow citizens.

I’ve seen and experienced so many problems in my life. I’ve seen people being evicted from their homes and sent to the streets. I’ve seen kids who wanted to leave the city for a better life, but couldn’t, and kids who wanted to attend great colleges but didn’t because they couldn’t afford it. I will help change these situations.

My government will help control rent costs to keep them lower, so that everyone, not matter how unfortunate, has homes to live in. I will build recreational centers in every neighborhood for kids who have great talents but not enough money to get there. Also, my government will pay for trips for underfunded schools to go places outside of the city—because kids don’t get outside of the city enough.

I would build afterschool academic programs for kids who want to better themselves. Also, I would make sure that all schools give second chances to kids who did something wrong—everyone deserves a second chance.

In summary, I will do everything in my power to help build a great nation by helping this nation’s children.

Vote for me!

67

TIM

OTH

YC

AM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

TIMOTHY

Hello America. I am Timothy Parker and I am running for President. I am from Manhattan, New York City, and did not come from a broken home. I am very smart, and would be a great President simply because of my magnificent intelligence.

What concerns me most about America’s citizens are the problems of teen pregnancy, child abuse, and abortion. Our kids are our future. And the worse we treat them, and the worse their lives are, the worse America’s future will be.

My main goal is to make American citizens successful, starting with our children. But I cannot achieve this goal if there are kids having more kids. Teen pregnancy ruins kids’ lives—it’s a terrible issue, and before I leave office I promise to get this issue under control.

I will solve this problem by making birth control free and available to everyone. Also, starting in 7th grade, all students must attend sex-ed classes. By educating people about the risks of teen pregnancy, and by making birth-control available to everyone, we can begin to solve this problem.

Please vote for me, Timothy Parker—I understand the problems that our children face, and I can solve them.

68

CAM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

JA’Y

RIL

JA’YRIL

My name is Ja’yril Pelton. I am 36 years old and running for President. I went to Yale for two years and went to Columbia University for the other two years.

What issues concern me the most, you ask? The kids in my day did not know what they wanted from life. All they cared about was getting girls/boys. What should you want from life? Life is something you live.

My advice to you, The American People, is live every day to the fullest to your ability. Don’t worry about what your classmates do—live up to all your potential.

The American people should vote for me because I can be a good influence on your children at home. I can inspire our country to do better.

69

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

PHOTO BY

KYLON

70

AN

DY

CAM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

ANDY

First and foremost, as President I would fix our schools. Everything begins with our youth and their education. Schools are becoming dangerous for some students, especially at public schools, because students are becoming more exposed to drugs and violence. They are not thinking about their future or of what they’re going to live off of.

This issue has to be fixed so that kids can have a better future.

To solve the problem, we should make schools act more sympathetically towards students so that students won’t feel so unwanted or trapped at school. This is just a first step, but it is an important one. Students need to feel like school is good place to be, and a place where they are understood by their teachers.

This is a serious problem that needs to be solved and we all need to take it seriously. And this will be my primary concern if I am elected to be your President.

71

CAM

PAIG

N S

PEEC

HES

KYLO

N

KYLON

I am running for president, and I am 50 years old. I was born in America so I know the problems of animal abuse, child abuse, and abortion. And many more.

I have no main concern. Instead, I will solve all of America’s problems. I’m tired of presidents saying that they can make change. Stop saying it, and start doing it!

If you vote for me, I will not lie or cheat my way to victory. I will lead our country honorably.

PHOTO BY

TIMOTHY

DEAR NEW YORK

TREVOR

Dear New York,

I like Florida better than you because Florida and you do things differently. In Florida, you do not see kids fighting, but in New York you do. New York is a very bad place for kids to live in. New York can change kids; it can change a nice kid to a bad and stealing kid in minutes.

From the first day I arrived here, I saw how kids were different. They were meaner here in New York. When I was in Florida, I saw kids playing and having fun. But in New York, people are very dif-ferent.

TREVOR

73

DEAR N

EW

YO

RK

TR

EVO

R

74

RICHARD

Dear New York, I don’t like you because I think you over-price everything. Like these cans of soda are 75 cents and they are not even that big. Sometimes I get thirsty and I only have 50 cents. What am I go-ing to do? Most of the prices in your stores should go down.

Once I wanted to get a bike, but the bike was too expensive. I tried to get the bike and it was $200. I said to myself, “Where in the world am I going to get 200 dollars from?” I can’t afford a 200-dollar bike. That’s a lot of money to get. Now I am stuck with no bike because the bike had to be 200 dollars. People don’t get money like that and still everything is too expensive. I think New York should lower the prices for things.

Sincerely,Richard

DEAR N

EW

YO

RK

RIC

HAR

D

75

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

BACK COVER

PHOTO BY

SAMIAPHOTO BY

SAMIA

76

KEVAL

DEAR N

EW

YO

RK

KEVAL

Dear New York, I love being here because the first time I came off the plane I went to Times Square, and I went to see the lights on the buildings. I went to Chucky Cheese’s; and I went to a big pool; and I went to Dorney Park. My life was nice when I came here for the first time because I got to see all the normal sights.

But I miss Jamaica because my friends miss me. My broth-er and sister and I all miss soccer. And I miss my bike be-cause when I am riding my bike I can do cool stunts. I miss my friend—he is a bike rider. He loves to do stunts. He is always doing stunts on his blue and white bike.

New York is a lot of fun because New York has a lot of places to see. I play a lot of games and meet a lot of friends. The breezes are so cold! And I love the sea. And New York has a lot of trees.

Love,Keval

77

NAKAYLA

DEAR N

EW

YO

RK

NAKAYLA

Dear New York: I think that this is an okay city. The reason I think New York is good is only because of the places. Like there are a lot of parks, landmarks, and stores. One of the things I also like is that I can go to the store at 2:30 in the morning. It will be open and right around the corner.

One of the reasons I do not like New York City is because of the high prices. Like I would have gotten more things at the festival of San Gennaro if they would have not had to raise the prices for you to get into the bank. I also would have been able to get driven to school and other cool places, but I can’t because you raised the price on gas.

Store prices are bad, too. They raised the can soda prices to 75 cents. Then they raised cheeseburgers and restaurant prices.

Those are some of the ups and downs in New York. I hope that you people enjoy the ups and run around the downs.

-Nakayla

78

79

CREATIV

E W

RIT

ING

PHOTO BY

KYLON

80

SAM

IAART R

EVIE

WS

ART REVIEWS

Pablo Picasso, Self-Portrait, 1907

SAMIA

This is not a normal face. The man’s head is crooked and out of order, made up of puzzle-like pieces.

I despise this picture because it doesn’t make any sense. There is no meaning to it, in my opinion. The only thing I see is a man with a crooked, puzzled face. This doesn’t send a message to anyone. When I see artwork I want to be able to get a message or see something specific that makes me know that the art is significant. I don’t see that anywhere in this picture, which is why I despise it.

81

NAKAYLA

ART R

EVIE

WS

NAKAYLA

You can say that this piece is just overlapping circles, but to me it huge eye-balls circling a black hole like planets. The balck hole sucks in theses eyes to leave the stars lonely in the night sky.

I think this piece is amazing. It is a twist on a normal theme. Instead of plan-ets the artist uses giant eyeballs. Instead of the night sky represented like a happy and beautiful place, there is instead an evil balck hole. Normally, when you think about the night sky, you think peaceful thoughts. The color is also amazing. I love the combination of blackness and bright eyeballs. It is supris-ing and unusual.

Vassily Kandinksy, Quelques cercles, 1926

82

SH

AN

EART R

EVIE

WS

SHANE

This piece of art shows how im-portant things are. It shows four fish-like people standing on some sort of levitating objecting. Per-haps they are guarding something that is beneath them. All four are looking in different directions. Perhaps the item is so important that a thief might do whatever it takes to steal it. But the problem for the thief is that they are ready.

I enjoyed this piece of art because it is one of a kind. It is so unique that I’m sure no one else has ever thought of a piece like this one.

Paul Klee, The Twittering Machine, 1922

Ths makes me think of what the plot is supposed to be. Is is so confusing and weird that I love it.

It seems to be dark in this photo. Maybe it’s because it’s nighttime, or maybe it’s because they’re in a very dark and protected room. What item could pos-sibly be this important? It makes me curious.

83

ART R

EVIE

WS

TREVOR

What I see here is a spaceship that is very dirty. It’s dirty, but it’s also blending in with the region it’s flying over. The picture was takn from very high in the sky. There are forest, houses, and roads. Which you can see if you look at it in a certain way.

I despise this picture because I think it’s a dumb topic to make art about. Why draw a spaceship and do so from so high in the sky that you can’t really see anything? There are jumbles of roads going everywhere, and there was no point in painting this.

Jackson Pollock, #1, 1950

TR

EVO

R

84

RIC

HAR

DART R

EVIE

WS

Banksy, Palestinian Wall graffiti, 2005

RICHARD

In this piece of art there is a gate/fence in front of these two kids. The kids are very young. One looks excited and one just looks like he is daydreaming. It looks like the two kids are putting sand into a bucket. They are probably about to build a sandcastle. In the background it looks like it is colored gray. Then there is another picture with a beach with water. Some of the trees are funny looking – they are leaning like they are about to fall. Some of the trees are straight up in this second picture. Then some of the trees are like a cave, carved. The sky color is blue, and there is no clouds there, so it’s probably sunny.

This painting is amazing because it reminds me of the good old days when I was on the beach. I was just like these two boys when was young and on the beach playing with sand. My little brother was always excited, I would just daydream of what New York City would be like. In the picture, it shows that—one boy excited and another boy daydreaming. Then there is another picture with a different place, a better place than where those two boys are. That was just the same way I was.

PHOTO BY

TREVOR

86

RID

DLES

CH

EYEN

NE

RIDDLES

CHEYENNE I have many family members around the world. I change only when my master tells me to. I used to have very few options to change to, and I used to be dull and gray to look at. But now I am alive with choices and color. I usually have square or rectan-gular features, and I’m pretty flat. You can usually find me on a wall or a shelf.

What am I? (answer at bottom)

answer: a television

87

SAM

IARID

DLES

PHOTO BY

TREVORSAMIA I grow every day and night, then get discarded once a week, or sometimes more often. I mostly work with men, but some-times females too. Sometimes people do terrible things to me, like shoot lasers at me, or cover me in hot wax. The laser espe-cially bothers me: It hurts! People like to rub and scratch me, which I usually enjoy.

What am I? (answer at bottom)

answer: a moustache

88

RID

DLES

SH

AN

E

SHANE I am lonely every day, but comforted at night.

What am I? (answer at bottom)

answer: a pillow

89

NAKAYLA

RID

DLES

PHOTO BY

TREVORNAKAYLA I can be any color that you can imagine. I hurt when you first put me on, but you never will feel me again. If you get sick of me, you can always remove me. But most people choose to keep me on them forever.

What am I? (answer at bottom)

answer: a tattoo

90

CREATIV

E W

RIT

ING

, C

ON

T.

PHOTO BY

TREVOR

91

TIM

OTH

YREG

RETS

TIMOTHY

If I could live my life over I would cherish all the moments I had with my grandparents. Take back all the terrible tthings I said about them. Did to them. I would do everything I could to make sure they didn’t have to go through what they went through. I would be their servant while they were kings and queens. All I want is one week with them, one day with them, one hour with them, and I would be happy, grateful—and sure I would be sad—but I could get out all the things I needed to say.

RIP.

Mamma +Grandaddy =My happiness

92

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

PHOTO BY

JA’YRIL

93

SAM

IAPO

ETRY

PHOTO BY

TREVOR

94

STU

DEN

TS

STUDENTS

CALEB BASCO

thinks that being the youngest

of five siblings is not fun.JAYLENE BADILLO

RODNEY BRENT says that

“being me is my only thing.”

KIRAN BUDHIRAJA

thinks you should always

voice your opinion and be

true to youself. She is.

KEVAL BLAKE

is from Jamaica, and wants the

world to know that he is great.

TYRELL CARILLO

finds life constantly to be

constantly challenging.

95

STU

DEN

TS

SHANE HOFFMAN

thinks siblings are pure evil.

JUSTIN JAMES

is obsessed with history, war,

and especially the Spartans.

RICHARD FAGAN

thinks kindergarten is the

best grade ever.

NASIR FINCH loves the

game of squash and hanging

out with his best friends.

KIONNE HENDRICKSON

is an amazing poet.

TREVOR LAING

wanted his pen name in this

book to be “The Hollow Man.”

96

TIMOTHY PARKER

is kind-hearted and nice

to everyone.

OULI NDAW

likes playing squash and

loves candy.

JA’YRIL PELTON

says that he is always cool

and schnazzy.

STEPHANIE POLANCO

thinks squash is fun and

likes soda.

JUSTEN MARRERO

likes to sing while he eats.

CHEYENNE PAUL

97

STU

DEN

TS

KYLON ROSE

likes video games, TV, and afros.

SAMIA STEWART

makes up dance steps in her

head, and has memorized over

ten entire routines.

LESLIE RODRIGUEZ

likes playing sports and

hanging out with her friends.

NAKAYLA TAYLOR’s

favorite shape is the heart.

98

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA

Publisher’s Circle:Douglas Brown Pinion Street Foundation Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal, in conjunction with the Rosenthal Family Foundation William Zachs

Executive Editors:Courtney Lee-MitchellNoah BrickBenjamin PiersonFrancesca Connolly & Marc Agger Nina Collins Kathy Hardman Ruth Hayward Christian Novetzke Kathy Pierson Scott S. Sharad & Shobha Kale Nancy Stephens Andrea Wolfe

canTeens is produced by Canteen Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible. To support the arts and education, please visit canteenmag.com/donate or email info@canteenmag.com.

Canteen Arts wishes to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous support:

Associate Editors:Leslie Alexander Therese BernbachChristine Cotney Benson Jennifer CraftRobert EllisVivienne Flesher Kathi Kamen Goldmark Michael HomolkaBetsy Jacobs Sunila KaleJames KosterJosh Ladd Elaine Lawrason Susan Morris Christian Novetzke Robert Palm The Pershing Square Foundation Jonathan Schippers Ward Schumaker Howie SeligmanJoshua Stern Kenneth WernerKehinde Wiley Anne Wintroub

100

PO

ETRY

SAM

IA