ROCKLIN VS. DEL ORO - My High School Journalism

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18February 2007 The Flash FicTiOn "Flower Fields": cont. from page 17 is talking! It’s more articulate we are! It’s a f------ cat!” He narrowed his eyes in reaction, “All I care about is the flower fields. I’m willing to overlook everything else. You need to relax and just let things be.” The kitten considered these words, traced me with its eyes, and then nodded again. “He’s right, you know. Master Sun said…” I shook my head and sighed in disbelief. This was getting ridiculous. I sighed. “You can read, too.” He replied affirmatively, “Indeed…” He then cautiously added, “and in its original language, what’s more.” Round eyes looked at me apologetically. “Where did you come from, then? I assume you are a… boy kitten?” He rolled his eyes and spoke with condensation- just enough to be charming and not offensive. “Yes, I’m a ‘boy kitten’.” He glanced over his shoulder, “And I came from that way, in the same sense,” he raised a paw toward us, “that you came from that way.” “Great, I’m in the middle of nowhere with Nobody and his pet.” “I have a name, you know,” the kitten interceded. “And I have never seen that man before in my life.” He turned away and began bathing himself disinterestedly. “Wait,” I sighed in defeat, “I’m sorry. What’s your name?” “I am Toshiba.” “Toshiba…?” He was still looking to the direction from which the breeze had carried the flower. ---------- Half time in the locker room and number twelve’s heart was beating like a war drum. He could feel it thumping beneath his shoulder pads and white jersey. In a swirl of light, time faltered and now he was kneeling on the field, after the battle is hard fought and lost. Two knees were down, and the lights were shining on him. It was cold out, but he couldn’t feel it. He was praying under those lights and on that fifty-yard line, in a way truly unique to his character- somber, earnest and rare in occurrence. He felt a touch and was brought back to earth. Someone was hugging him. “Jeff, you’re fun,” spoken lightly and with giggles. “Thanks,” is all he could think to say. The smell of lavender was fading, and fading fast. He felt a sense of urgency, but he didn’t know what to do. In the end zone sat another player. He glanced over at him, situated under the goal post. “What it is, Mo?” “Ah wutsup. What it is, Ro?” he answered in routine. He smiled at his good friend, number four, his brother in arms. “I ain’t leavin’, man!” said Ro smiling without his usual swagger- there was sadness, a gravity to his expression.. “I know,” said Mo. After a moment, he said with pristine clarity. “Come on, RJ, its time to get going.” Deeper truth rang like a bell in the air between them, for only a moment. He pulled his brother up; they hugged and proceeded to walk to the middle of the field. “J-Mo!” From across the hash mark, another brother called. They met somewhere in the middle. Number thirty three. He had to bend down to hug this one, pads and all. “I can’t believe this is it,” number thirty three said. “I know, bro…” is all twelve would say. “Night train,” he says to number seven, standing quietly to his right, hugging him as well. “Brother, teammate, friend.” Silence. He walked to and hugged number six, his wounded brother, injured from a previous battle. The crutches he was standing on had absorbed the cold from the night.. There were no words spoken. Reality was present. Reality was a blur. “Hey man,” is all he could hear as he hugged one of his friends who had made her way from the stands. She was toting a number four jersey and an air of understanding. No soul would reiterate the gravity of what had just taken place. “It’s just the way it goes…” Composure came so easily, and he doubted whether or not anyone had registered him as offbalance, if only for a passing moment. He had to believe God would take care of his creatures; he had believed it for so long before, those hot summer practices when he felt his body could go no longer, but somehow it had, often due in part to a well placed breeze passing by. War paint was made to be smeared with sweat. Finally, the comrades are done. Few words were exchanged in passing with coaches. The field was empty, the lights were shining and he was alone. He made sure he would be the last one off, in the same way he made sure he was the last one to call out the post-battle team break. He recognized the significance of this little game called football and how it had moved him, and he knew that, at last, his time had come. He stared at that empty field for what seemed like eternity. The lights began to shut off. “J-Mo!” called number thirty three from behind the chain link fence that separated the stadium from the rest of the school. Number four, standing next to him in the darkness, said as well, “Come on Jeff,” while waving him on. He felt the essence of life was speaking through two people on the same journey. He would answer their call, and walk with them not only to the locker room, but to the next stage of being a man- life after varsity football. But first, he would turn around and watch for a moment, the haunting image forever burned into the lens of his mind’s eye; as the infamous game lights were shutting off for him one last time, the haunting silhouette of a stat girl appeared, running across the field toward the sidelines to retrieve her clipboard, a wild phantasm drifting through an ethereal plane. There was only the faintest trace of sweet lavender in the cold air now.
hs_flash@yahoo.com FeaTures February 2007 19 From the tropics.... Mallory Valenzuela alexis Coopersmith Staff writer “I LOVE SUBURBIA!” Now, you wouldn’t expect this to come from Rocklin High School junior Asia Larkin. This vibrant and cultured teen from Hilo, Hawaii- a small town with an annual “Merrie Monarch” festival and people c e l e b r a t i n g ancient and m o d e r n h u l a Staff writer “I spent 14 completely beautiful years of my life there.” Kristine Tagorda is native born Hawaiian. She lived a laidback lifestyle full of snorkeling and hanging out on the beach for the majority of her life. Then she moved to Rocklin. Tagorda was born on the island of Maui, where most of her family still lives today. She had to move to Rocklin right before her freshman year of high school because her dad was offered a position in California. “I don’t really mind living here, but my sister and my performances-can say she likes Rocklin and Hilo equally. Asia moved to Rocklin in August of 2006. “I moved to Rocklin because my grandma is sick. It was also because of my parents’ business, and to be closer to family.” As a past resident of Hawaii, which many of us envision being “paradise,” Asia says she misses the Hawaiian sun and culture the most. “When I was back in Hawaii, I would go down to ... to suburbia mom hate it. It is really different for my dad because he lived in Hawaii his whole life. We don’t really have any family here, so sometimes it’s hard. They’re really important to us and I miss them a lot,” said Tagorda. In Maui, Tagorda enjoyed most average Hawaiian activities. She was always at the beach and loved to snorkel. There are two malls on the island that people would meet up at every Friday and Saturday. “My best memory of Hawaii was when I went to the island Molokini. I went snorkeling and swam with turtles. I this river behind my school. It was just like a hobby of mine, since it was like a hangout spot. But tourists were dumb, since there was this one time a rescue helicopter came. Dumb tourists…” Adapting to suburban Rocklin has been a unique challenge for Asia, nonetheless. “There are a lot of white people here. There are like, only twenty white people back home, so it’s exactly opposite. So there’s a lack of diversity. And everyone thinks I’m Mexican!” “And the people in Rocklin are meaner. There are some wasn’t really scared but then I realized the ground was so far below me and I got really nervous. I just fainted right there in the water,” said Tagorda Moving from Hawaii to California has been a major c h a n g e for Tagorda. “ H a - w a i i is so really mean ones…” Oddly enough, Asia is also afraid of the ocean. Yes, a past Hawaiian resident, afraid of the ocean. However, there may be logic behind this fear-perhaps she has a fear of drowning and dying-but Asia explains… “So many people are stung by JELLYFISH!” Despite this being her first year at Rocklin High School, Asia comes to school with an enthusiastic attitude. With her past behind her and her Hawaiian spirit guiding her, she looks forward to this new beginning. laidback. The environment and lifestyles are so different from California. School is a major change too. The education level here is so much more advanced. I like it though because living in Maui limits your chance of getting into a good college,” said Tagorda. After two years of living in California, Tagorda is finally getting used to the Cali lifestyle. Although she misses her home, she does not plan on ever moving back to Hawaii. Tagorda said, “It would be great to move back, but I doubt I ever will. I like California; I just really miss the weather!”
Page 1: dealing with grief INSIDE: new fict
Page 4 and 5: 4 November 2006 rhs_flash@yahoo.com
Page 6 and 7: 6 November 2006 The Flash FeaTures
Page 8 and 9: 8 February 2007 One Katie Kilbourne
Page 10 and 11: 10 February 2007 The Flash sports C
Page 12 and 13: 12February 2007 rhs_flash@yahoo.com
Page 14 and 15: 14 February 2007 The Flash Features
Page 16 and 17: 16 February 2007 The Flash FicTiOn
Page 20 and 21: 20 Kyle Myers February 2007 Enterta
Page 22 and 23: 22November 2006 rhs_flash@yahoo.com
Page 28: F N& U GAMES SUDOKU The object is t

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