Meet the Dream Keepers

Happy Halloween!

Last week, one of the Dream Keepers wrote a scary story and shared it with the group. He had us all looking over our shoulders for ghosts. The author, Jaimie, is pictured above. His story follows. Enjoy!

Little Lyric

by Jaimie Bogard-LaMar

“Come on, Lyric,” said Deseree. “The last bell just rang.”

“I’m on the homecoming committee, remember?”

“Oh yeah. So you have to stay. Well, I’ll see you later. Just don’t be here alone,” said Deseree.

"Wonder what she means by ‘Don’t be here alone,’" thought Lyric.

After Lyric and the homecoming team were done for the day and about to leave, Lyric remembered. Uh oh, she thought. I left my jacket in the locker room. My mom said if I left it one more time, she wouldn’t let me go to the homecoming and all of my work would be for nothing. So, Lyric rushed to the locker room and saw her jacket lying on the bench. As she was about to grab it, she heard a banging sound. She looked around to see what it was. And she saw a locker door opening and closing by itself. Then she heard footsteps. Lyric grabbed her jacket and ran out of the building.

The next day she told Deseree what happened.

“I told you not to be here alone. Didn’t you hear what happened at this school?”

“What are you talking about,” asked Lyric.

Deseree said, “A long time ago, a girl was killed at this school. She was here alone in the locker room. A robber saw her and cut out her tongue before he killed her. This is why no one is ever here alone.”

“Stop playin’,” said Lyric.

“Seriously,” said Deseree. “Never be here alone.”

So that day, after the bell rang, Lyric was in the library working with the homecoming committee. She was so busy working she hadn’t noticed everyone was gone. Lyric jumped up and ran out the door. But then she remembered. Her jacket was still in there. So she ran back in to the locker room and grabbed her jacket. As she was about to leave, she noticed a duffel bag fill of money.

“Now you have to die,” said a voice.

She ran from the building and started towards home when she heard footsteps behind her.

Lyric made it all the way home, locked the door, and yelled, “Mom! Dad!” No one answered. She ran to the kitchen and found a note. It said, “Dear Lyric, We won’t be home for a few hours because we are working late. See you soon.”

"NOOOO!," thought Lyric, as she heard a loud scratching noise. She realized someone was cutting through the screen door. She ran upstairs to hide, as she heard him break the glass of the other door. She crawled under the bed and waited. Lyric looked out from under the bed and saw the ghost of the little girl holding her tongue in her hands. At that moment, the robber burst in and said, “Now you’ll end up just like she did.” He moved closer. Lyric’s parents came rushing into the room, catching a glimpse of the robber as he jumped out the window.

“What happened?” Asked Lyric’s parents.

Lyric said nothing. She never spoke again.

The end.

Six-word Scary Stories

We've done six-word memoirs. Tonight the Dream Keepers wrote six-word scary stories. Read and enjoy! (Then write and submit your own in the comment field!)

A vampire destroys the city with power. —Tramonta Garner (pictured above)

One virus. One town. No survivors. —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14

One girl. Many monsters. What's next? —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14

Big zombie eats eyeballs. City blind. —Elisha Branch, 14

One house. One family. Both gone. —Elisha Branch, 14

Knock, knock. Who's there? Killer mysterious. —Derranesha, 12

Baby cries. No answer. What happens? —Derranesha, 12

Ring, ring. "Hello." Please help me. —April, 12

The spooky monster ran towards me ... —Sonya, 17

The worm crawls into the brain. —Sierra

The slippery, slimy monster grabs two. —Quintoya Eskridge

Write a Job Description

Each week in October, the Dream Keepers have been meeting to write scary stories! None of those are quite ready to post yet. Until then, I thought I'd give you all an assignment. (That's what writing teachers do!)

When we met tonight, I put up a list of potentially scary creatures on the board. I didn't pay attention to the other writing on the board. Then one of the young people pointed out that it looked like the Census Office had jobs available for zombies, ghosts, goblins, and other creatures. Now that would be some job description! I'd love to read it.

And I can—if you write it. That's your assignment. Imagine that you are writing a job description for one of the above openings at the census office. If you like what you come up with, send it to me at rochelle@writenowcoach.com. I will post the best descriptions I receive!

Happy writing!

Follow-up

Dream Keeper Elisha Branch put together a couple of wonderful job postings:

Jobs Available

Vampires Only!!!

Black cape and fangs required (not included).

$200 paid for every bucket of blood gathered.

Tryouts Friday October 30th.

Must attend tryouts.

Must have an approachable appearance.

2201 W. Havenwood Drive Haven, WI 12345

Monsters Needed!

Do you have a freaky-looking face?

Do you have eight eyeballs?

Do you have two or more tails?

If you can say yes to any of the above questions,

you are eligible for a job as a model.

Only the extremely scary are accepted.

Tramonta Garner wrote this description:

Vampires have a job to scare kids and grow-ups for their own good. Just like monsters do. Goblins scare people by a haunted house. And zombies come from the dead to scare kids that are walking to and from the store at night.

The Writing Tween and Teen

When we commit ourselves to writing for some part of each day we are happier, more enlightened, alive, lighthearted, and generous to everyone else. Even our health improves. —Brenda Ueland

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. —Margaret Mead.

Writing saved my childhood. I was a skinny girl who didn't fit in. Writing gave me power and purpose. Now that I'm an adult writing books, I know that writing has the power to transform not only our lives but our communities and the world.

Stop by on Monday afternoons this fall and claim your own writing power!

See you soon!

Rochelle

I Write To Change

Last week I was delighted to attend the graduation of Dream Keeper Elisha Branch from the Academy of Learning and Leadership Middle School in Milwaukee. In the above photo, Elisha is giving her Salutatorian Address. I am so proud of her. Read on for Elisha's latest poem and writings from some of the other Dream Keepers. Our theme for the day was, "I Write to Change." 

I Write To Change

by Elisha Branch

I write to change the lives of others,

I write to influence my sisters and brothers.

I write to change for the sake of us,

I write because I want and because I must.

I write to say, let's make this a great day.

I write because I have a lot to say.

I write to day and preach my word.

I write because I have a voice that needs to be heard.

I write to protect equalness.

I write to fight for what is just.

I write to protect justice and peace.

I write to protect—to keep your mind at ease.

I Write to Say

by Natalie Branch

What is this world coming to

I feel nothing but anger when I turn on the news—

Murders, robberies, and child abuse.

And not much good is coming from our youth.

Yeah, sometimes they show the thing we do that's a little right.

But followed right behind is a story about someone killed last night.

I can't take much more of this violence—

raising children in a world like this doesn't make sense.

I want my son's life to be worthwhile.

I don't want him growing up with false idols.

Rapper, gang banger, or a basketball player—

None of those things sound good on or off paper.

I want him to know that you have to work hard for a brighter future—

A big house and riches aren't just going to be handed to you.

These are valuable lessons to learn.

Not just for him but for everyone.

So for all of God's children both young and old—

Work hard to brighten your future and help save our world.

One of our Dream Keepers, a ten-year-old girl, lost her baby cousin to SIDs. After she told me about his death, I asked her to write about it. These are her words about what happened.

We Miss You!

by Trayvece

Meekel. A two-month old baby. Dead.

Meekel died a day after a wedding.

On a Sunday morning at 9:15.

Little Meekel found dead on his stomach,

His face got smothered on the bed.

His mom woke up 

because she thought her niece and nephews were making noise,

so she could tell them to stop before they woke him up.

But it was the angels giving the baby a party.

His face was purple and red. 

His mom put her ear to his mouth and no breathing was heard.

She put her ear to his heart. Nothing.

She started to tap him so he cold wake up. Nothing.

We Miss You!

I Like Monkeys

by Ashawn, age 7

I am going to the zoo

to visit monkeys.

Monkeys climb trees.

They eat bananas.

They say, "Ooh-ooh. Ahh-ahh."

When I see my monkey,

I will be happy.

Then I will go see more monkeys.

Spring Dream Keeping

The Dream Keepers have had a busy spring. The high school Dream Keepers continue to work on advanced writing projects. Jacque Troy of the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre visited us and presented a four-session playwriting workshop. At least two of the high school students finished plays and submitted them to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre One-Act Playwriting Festival. This is quite an achievement! 

The younger Dream Keepers group continues to grow. We attract a wide group of children each week—especially boys—who are interested in writing. Here are a few of the pieces the young people have created in the past two months.

I AM

by Robert

I am black and I'm proud.

I don't care what I am

Long as God's kind work together.

To be continued ...

ALL I WANT

by Trayvece

All I want is a dad who will

be there for me. Who would love me.

Who wouldn't forget my birthday.

And ask me is it a bad hair day.

Who would call me his little angel

sent from above and

tuck me into bed.

That's all I want.

I AM

by Kenneth

I am a tall giraffe walking the street.

I am a drum hitting to the beat.

When I'm tired, I go to sleep;

I hear the birds go tweet, tweet, tweet.

Summer is like ...

by Ashley, age 9

Summer is like a big ball of fun.

Sleep is a peace.

The moon is like a big night light.

Night is magic.

Day is drowsy.

Water is like a fountain of joy.

Time is priceless; you can't get enough.

Summer is like ...

by Kyle

Summer is like fire.

Sleep is like a break.

Time is like a slide when you can't stop.

Summer is ...

by Xavier

Summer is love. Spring

brings emotion. The heart 

beats back and forth to the

sounds of hummingbirds 

in the summer heat.

Urban Haiku

by Faith, age 9

Fight at school

Two boys punching each other

In the face. Big bump.