The Phoenix

Check out the Phoenix online at:

phsphoenix.weebly.com

Issue 5
Volume X
May 3, 2016

Exclusive
Interview:
Doniger on

Ubu the
Conqueror!
P. 7

Sports:
The Next
GreatsGolf
P. 11

Comic:
AP Testing
Instructions
P. 13

Volume X Issue 5

The Phoenix
Founded in 2007 by Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent
VOLUME X, ISSUE 5 STAFF
Editor-in-chief: Sarah Hill
Tech and Formatting Associate Editor: Henry Hu
Worldly Associate Editor: Samantha DePalma
Writers: Sarah Hill, Henry Hu, Erin Dorsey, Matthew
Wisnefsky, Shefkije Dani, Tanishq Kancharla, Julia
Kossakowski, Zachary Wisnefsky, Abigail Dwight, Andrew
Kelbley

Photography, Artwork, and Image Credits

Phoenix (p. 1, 2, 3, 16): Ben Yacavone
Stress (p.5): The Atlantic (theatlantic.com)
Thrill (p.5): Melissa Cousino (theodysseyonline.com)
Clinton in Futurefit (p.9): Jouhan (jouhansblog.tumblr.com)
Henry Clay (p.9): Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Cookie in a Mug (p.10): Tina (justputzing.com)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (p.11): Sportinglife (sportinglife.com)
Tony Finau (p.11): PGA Tour (pgatour.com)
Maverick McNealy (p.11): drewkharris (thebenhoganaward.com)
Patrick Rodgers (p.12): Getty Images
Beau Hossler (p.12): Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America
Anything goes (p.13): Shefkije Dani

All content is the sole property of the

Phoenix.
The Phoenix is an independent
publication; we are neither endorsed by
nor affiliated with Pomperaug High
School staff or administrators.
Although each article or letter to the editor expresses only the opinion of its author, final responsibility for the nature and
type of all content that appears in the
Phoenix lies with the editor under whom
such content is published.

The Phoenix

Legal Notice: Because of high production costs, readers are permitted to one copy per person. Newspaper
theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.

In this issue of the Phoenix. . .

Credits and General Information......................................................................2
FAQ..............................................................................................................................3
Calendar....................................................................................................................4
Word of the edition................................................................................................5
Crash Course Current Events...........................................................................6
Interview: Doniger on Ubu the Conqueror..................................................7-8
Satire: Hillary Clay, or Henry Clinton?..........................................................9
Recipe: Cookie in a Mug!......................................................................................10
Sports: the next GreatsGolf....................................................................11-12
Sports Trivia!.........................................................................................................12
Comic: Ignoring Testing Instructions............................................................13
Fiction: Anything Goes 4............................................................................13-14
Stress-less Word Search..................................................................................15
Sudoku Corner......................................................................................................15
How to Contribute/Get Published.................................................................16

Phoenix FAQ
What is the Phoenix anyway?

Starbucks (Southbury Green): After you walk

The Phoenix is an independent news magazine for

the PHS community. We are entirely student-run,
without the schools official approval or backing
each issue is a compilation of news, editorials, information, games, artistic endeavors, and even more.

inside, look on the counter behind you and to

your left.
Southbury Public Library: After walking inside,
turn left; straight ahead, several non-profit publications will be lying on top of a shelf three rows
down. (Or ask at the front desk about free publications.)

How often does the Phoenix come out?

A new issue of the Phoenix is released every
monthif we had more writers, we could release
them even faster! We want you to write for us
about anything you are passionate about!

Where can I get my copy of the Phoenix?

The Phoenix is always available online at
phsphoenix.weebly.com. Paper copies are available
at the following locations:
PHS: in the cafeteria, AP room, library, or advisory,
usually before school hours or during free blocks;
look for an editor/writer (listed on page 1)!

Is there anything else I should know?

Visit our website

(phsphoenix.weebly.com)
to vote in our polls and read our issues in color! If
you or anyone you know wants to write about
something you are passionate about, e-mail us at

(phsphoenixnews@gmail.com)
And feel free to share with your friends the joy of
free speech! Enjoy!
P.S. May the Fourth be with you!

Volume X Issue 5

May 2016 Calendar

Sunday

1 MAY

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

A.. P.. T E. S.

AM Chem,
PM Psych

AM Comp Sci, AM Lit,

AM Calc,
Spanish, PM
PM Japanese, PM Chinese
Physics 1
Physics 2

PM French

PM Italian
Music Dept. and Macro

PM Stat

HumanGeo,
Micro,
PM Latin

19

20

-Mr.
Pomperaug
@ 7PM

-Symphonic
Band
Concert
@7PM

26

27

Trip to Yale!

15

22

16
B2

17

23

24

18

25

7
..

AM APUSH,
PM Euro

8
9
10
11
12
13
Mothers T I N.. G. !
Day!
AM Bio, Music AM Gov,
AM Lang,
AM World, AM
Theory
PM Physics C

Saturday

-NHS
Induction

14
Celebrate!

21

28 National
Burger Day!

Letter From the Editor

Dear Reader,
As we approach the end of the year, I feel s
though my life is simultaneously getting busier and
calming down. With AP exams and finals close, I
have reached the maximum amount Im capable of
stressing. Yet, the future of The Pheonix remains a
worry for me. Why, you ask? Because WE NEED
UNDERCLASSMEN. These are the people who are
going to carry on the legacy of The Phoenix after the
class of 2017 graduate and if no underclassmen
step up, The Phoenix will die out again and there is
nothing I will be able to do about that!
Now, I have one more year in this school and

until I graduate I will do my very best to recruit new

members but I, and every other member of our
magazine, need your help! If you know an underclassmen who you think would be interested or who
likes writing, current events, stories, or anything
along those lines send them to us!
Anyway, thank you for picking up a copy of
The Phoenix and helping with our recreation this
year! Hopefully we will live on with your support of
course!
Sincerely,
Sarah Hill
Editor-in-Chief, The Phoenix

The Phoenix

The Word of the Edition

Henry Hu
Hey readers! Be it with athletics, AP Testing,
SATs, or portfolios, everyone is approaching, or
even surpassing, their saturation point. Just like we
change when we are shoved into unfamiliar
surroundings such as AP Tests or Performance
Tasks, the words in the English language have only
come to be how they are after hundreds of years of
non-stop coercion into contexts farther and farther
from their original meanings. In the spirit of
busyness, excitement, and AP Testing, the words of
the edition are stress and thrill.

Stress has a long and tumultuous history. It

began in Vulgar Latin as strictus recognizable in
constrict and strainand took its path through
Middle French as estrece, finally landing as stress in
Modern English (1300s) with the meaning of
adversity, hardship, force or to subject
something to force. Over the years the meaning
drifted towards the meaning of mechanical
pressure, and then described mental state and
eventually psychological stress after 1955.
The first reliable dictionaries were written after
1700, so before that, people had no care for
conventional usage and frequently mixed up
similar words (in fact, confusion like this still
happens today despite proper education). This is
why the words stress and distress drifted closer in
meaning, and what originally was used strictly for
troubling circumstances came to describe mental

states such as those of tormented damsels. Modern

day self-awareness of mental disorder has led to the
extrapolation of stress into expressions such as
stressed, stressor, and even stressing out.

Thrill has an interesting origin as well. Do you

know what a nose-thrill is? No, its not the rush of
euphoria up your sinusesyou may know it better
as a nostril, the collapsed form of nose-thrill. The
word thrill comes from Old English yrlian pierce,
in turn from yrel hole, where the is the letter
thorn, the Old English letter for th and the reason
for constructions such as Ye olde shoppe (where the
Y stands for ). Presumably, the modern day sense
of thrill anticipation, shivering excitement came
from the sense of being pierced with emotion.
In modern English, yrlian would be equivalent
to thirlian, not thrill. What gives? The process by
which letters are switched (Thirl- to Thrill) is called
Metathesisapparently the uneducated felt more
comfortable pronouncing thri- than thir- (then
again, thirteen is metathesized from thriteen, so
they didnt have any trouble there). The same
phenomenon of favoring easier pronunciations is
found in modern-day nuclear (nu-kyu-lar),
comfortable (comf-ter-ble), and iron (i-ern).
Good luck trying to find these words in this
issueand in your daily lives! Happy reading!
Yours Truly,
Henry Hu, Tech Co-editor

Volume X Issue 5

Crash Course Current Events

Erin Dorsey
From earthquakes to (un)equal rights, this is what you
missed in world news:

Deadly Earthquake
Ecuador

In

On April 16th a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked

Ecuador, killing 577 people and injuring 2,527. It
struck the central coast at 7 pm, destroying tourist
areas and fishing villages in the Manabi Province. All
6 coastal provinces were in states of emergency,
and effects could be felt as far as in the capital,
Quito, as well as in Colombia and Peru. Several
aftershocks followed, some reaching a magnitude
of 5.6. Rescue forces quickly mobilized to find
survivors and provide medical treatment to those
who were injured and survivors continued to be
pulled from the rubble up to 2 weeks later. In the
wake of this disaster, Ecuador faces the largest
humanitarian crisis in its history, and experts predict
severe economic consequences in the future.

Voting Rights Restored

to Virginia Felons
This April, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe
restored voting rights to over 200,000 convicted
felons in the state. Recently many legislators have
been pursuing actions similar to Gov. McAuliffe to
overturn Civil War-era laws that disenfranchise
former criminals, most of whom are African
American. While many are applauding the
Democratic governors action, others criticize the
move, and its timing during an election year, as
politically motivated. The individuals affected by
Gov. McAuliffes executive action are primarily poor
and African American, who tend to vote for
Democrat. However, the governor insists that this
decision a moral one and the timing independent of
a political agenda.

Anti-Gay Laws in North

C a ro l i n a
Generate

Backlash
North Carolina state legislators recently passed
House Bill 2, a bill that eliminated nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals
and prevents these protections from being
reinstated in the future. House Bill 2 also requires
that in public restroom and other gendered
facilities, transgender individuals use the facility
that aligns with their gender assigned at birth.
Although this law passed in the house, it has
received a vicious backlash across the state and
country. North Carolinas attorney general, Roy
Cooper, insisted that the bill was unconstitutional
and vowed not to defend it if it faced a court
challenge. In addition, almost 100 CEOs and
business leaders signed a letter sent to the
governors office in late March that denounced the
bill and urged that it be repealed.

US Presidential
Continues

Race

This years presidential race has been one of the

closest and most controversial in our countrys
history. With only a dozen state primaries left, no
candidate of either party has yet managed to secure
the necessary majority of pledged delegates. For
the Republican nomination, Donald Trump has a
significant lead with 996 delegates. On April 26th
he closed the gap to 1,237 pledged delegates
needed to win the nomination by winning
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
and Rhode Island. Ted Cruz and John Kasich are
falling further behind, with 565 and 153 delegates,
respectively. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton
pulled ahead on the 26th by winning 4 out of the 5
voting states to increase her pledged delegate
count to 2,165. Even though Bernie Sanders won
Rhode Island, his chances at the nomination are
looking increasingly slim with only 1,357 delegates
out of the needed majority of 2,383. The candidates
are now turning to large states like California to
secure the nomination.

The Phoenix

Interview: Doniger on

Ubu the Conqueror

Abbey Dwight
If youve been entertained by the proceedings to
the 2016 presidential elections, youre sure to be
entertained by Ubu the Conqueror, written and
directed by Pomperaugs very own Paul E.
Doniger. Ubu the Conqueror will premiere this
Friday, May 6 at 7:30 PM and will run twice more on
Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 and Sunday, May 8 at
2:30.
Ubu the Conqueror is the irreverent, silly, and
sometimes tragic tale of our world projected 1,000
years into the future, where Perry Ubu (Cameron
Slater), an extraordinarily stupid megalomaniac of a
politician whose corrupt First Lady (Kathleen
Stango) and devious cabinet have stolen him the
election for president of the Western
Hemisphere. After power is seized, the Ubu
administration embarks on an insidious quest to
make Ubu emperor of the entire planet. All the
while, Ubus wayward conscience (Abigail Dwight)
lurks, reversing the effects of some of the cabinets
ploys to knock off the other world leaders, Po Ling
Vladimirov of Eurasia (Savannah Moore) and Pasha
Sutherland of Austrafika (Chris Fernandes), and
trying to convince Ubu to start doing right
again. Ubus oafish blunders provide rollicking
comic relief from glimpses of the horrors that ensue
when the citizens of democracy lay latent and let
corruption prevail.

...tale of our world

Projected 1,000 years
Into the future...
In the following interview, conducted by Abigail
Dwight after Tech Weeks penultimate rehearsal on
Thursday, April 28, Doniger explains his inspiration
for Ubu and gives insight to the playwriting and
directing processes:

Phoenix: What initially inspired you to write Ubu

and how long did it take to write?
Mr. Doniger: I initially had the idea to take the
original Ubu plays, which were written in the late
19th century, and combine them into a one-evening
play with three-acts because there are three original
plays. I like the irreverence in them...I thought it
would be a fun experience just to play with it. But I
put that thought aside a couple of years ago,
actually, and then I got this idea because its an
election year and people are thinking about things
like politics and all that megalomaniacal kind of
behavior that politicians are so good at, so I thought
this would be a good time to write it. I came up with
the idea of putting it into the future somewhere
along the process of writing this summer...and
thats how it started, really.

...its an election year &

people are thinking about
things like politics...
P: Can you tell me a little bit about the original Ubu
works?
D:The character of Ubu is totally despicable, but
entertaining. In the original plays, all the scenes are
really short...and I liked the challenge that that
presents theater-wise to try and keep the audience
up-to-date on the storyline when things are
happening so fast. I think thats the initial idea that
interested me in them. The strange characters and
the language in the originals (which is much grosser
than the language in our play; I wouldnt be able to
use it in a high school), and the nastiness of the
character--for some reason I find it very interesting
that this nasty character could be a protagonist; the
hero so to speakmore like an anti-hero, I
suppose.
Continued on next page (8).

8
(Continued from page 7.) The original Ubu plays,
Ubu Roi, Ubu the Cocu, and Ubu Enchan were
written by Alfred Jarry, an absurdist playwright who
made shocking social commentary with his
work. Allegedly, the character Ubu was based on a
professor that Jarry and his peers used to collectively
despise. Ubu Roi is now considered a classic of
French Theatre, and is considered to be way ahead of
its time in terms of avant-garde-ness, according to
Mr. Doniger.
P: What have you learned from working with the
actors? Has it helped you develop the story more?
D: I dont know about the story, but it certainly
certainly helped me think about how the characters
should speak. Hearing the voices of the actual actors
has helped me revise a lot of lines...and revise the
construction [of the play]...Two scenes were out of
order. But the thing that helps me the most is
hearing the voices; it adds nuance and color that I
didnt hear when I was originally writing it.

The thing that helps

Me the most is hearing
The voices
We quipped about the huge difference between
writing and revising before continuing. Mr. Doniger
remarked that the revising was more fun than writing,
so I asked why:
D: I dont know; it just is! Its fun to hear these
voices and use those as springboards for making
change. Positive change, I hope.
P: So the characters have been shaped by the
actors.
D: Oh yeah. And I think thats how most playwrights
work--there is a famous story about Tennessee
Williams when he was working on Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof where he was convinced by the director to
write an entire new last act because of the way
things worked on stage and the way the characters
were developing...its all because of working with
other people that he got there. Playwriting is a
partly collaborative thing.

Volume X Issue 5
According to Mr. Doniger, suggestions and ideas from
crew members such as Elizabeth Styblo (Stage
Manager) and Lea Claflin (Arts Director) and actors
have been tremendously helpful in developing the
production.
P: What would you say you prefer: writing or
directing?
D: Yes.
A brief pause and a chuckle from me before he
continues:
I dont know that I can say I prefer one over the
other. Theyre different processes and they both
have their rewards, and I like them both. I like
acting, too; I love performing.

they both have their

Rewards, and I like them
Both. I like acting too...
P: So this is double good for you.
D: Yeah, this is double good. Maybe even triple
good. Quadruple. I dont know, giga-guple, if theres
such a word. Its all good.
P: Any last words?
D: Yes:
In an impression of the lion from the 1939 film The
Wizard of Oz, Doniger groans,
Talk me out of it!
Tickets can be purchased at lunch by students of
Pomperaug High School ($5 for students, staff, and
seniors; $10 for adults), or can be reserved via email
(Pdoniger@region15.org). The show is a perfect
outing for the family on Mothers Day. Dont miss
Ubus comedic conquest!

Dont miss
Ubus
Comedic Conquest!

The Phoenix

Satire: Hillary Clay, or Henry Clinton?

A parody of certain Zodiac Killer-related conspiracy theories
Andrew Kelbley
Some people doubt that humans will ever be able to
travel through time. Thats exactly what Hillary
Rodham Clinton wants us to think; if the American
people were to discover that time travel really does
exist, they would soon begin to doubt her life story.
After all, this pant suit is obviously inspired by Star
Trek-era fashion.

This pant suit is

Obviously inspired by
Star-trek era fashion.
The Leonardo Dicaprio of United States history,
Henry Clay was a fascinating 19th century Kentucky
politician with piercing eyes and oddly thin hair. Just
as Mr. Dicaprio failed to garner enough votes from
the Academy to win an Oscar for many, many years,
Mr. Clay failed to win enough votes from the
electoral college to become president, and as the
1800s galloped onward, he was repeatedly left in
the dust. After tragically losing five campaigns, the
brilliant compromiser died having never been
selected by the American people to lead them into a
golden age of strong central banking and wishywashy opinions on slavery.

However, this may be Claysor should we say

Clintonsyear. 2016 is the year of redemption, as
we learned at the Oscars when Leo took home a
trophy at last. Having adopted the persona of
Hillary Clinton, Henry Clay is similarly poised to
finally gain entry into the Oval Office. After
traveling through time to midcentury Chicago,
conspicuously adopting a name with the very same
initials as Henry Clay, and working her wayonce
againthrough the ranks of the American legal and
political systems, she decided to fulfill her longtime
dream of becoming president. Both candidates
have the initials HC, both have been Secretary of
State, both have been elected senators, and both
support the idea of a relatively large federal
government. Clay supported the War of 1812
Clinton voted for the 2003 Iraq War. Clays opinions
on slavery evolved over time, just like Clintons
opinions on same-sex marriage. They must be the
same person!

They must
Be the same
Person!

10

Volume X Issue 5

Recipe: Cookie In a Mug!

Julia Kossakowski
As AP tests, portfolios, and finals loom over our
heads, it is important to maintain a healthy,
balanced dietone full of carbs, fats, and sugars to
combat that end-of-year crippling depression.
Preparing yourself a snack can be a useful form of
procrastination twofold; 1) you feel productive, as
you are making a tangible object, and 2) you get the
temporary thrill of a nice sugar rush.
Although I make these every time of year, theyre
particularly nice to reward yourself for needless, self
-induced stress. Feel free to experiment with the
proportions of ingredients in this recipe, as no two
palates are alike.

Ingredients:

A microwave-safe mug

1 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tbsp granulated sugar

A splash of vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

2-3 tbsp all-purpose flour

1-2 tbsp chocolate chips

Procedure:

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook time: 20-40 sec
(Note from the editor: a quickie! To fully enjoy the
scrumptious satisfaction of the full-color
photograph of this delicious dish, please visit our
website at phsphoenix.weebly.com/newest-edition)

1. Microwave the butter in the mug until its liquid

or softyour preference.
2. Stir in the sugars and the vanilla extract with a
spoon or chopstick until smooth.
3. Mix in the egg yolk, and after its fully combined,
add the flour. I like to add a little less than the
full 3 tablespoons of flour when Im craving a
cookie-dough-like consistency.
4. Fold in your chocolate chips my favorite kind
for this are mini-semisweet chips.
5. Microwave your mug for however many seconds
youd like; 20-30 seconds produces a softer,
more liquidy/doughy cookie, while 35-40
seconds gives you a classic, fully-baked cookie.
.
NOTE: Although I prefer the former, I do not
endorse salmonella. Neither I nor The Phoenix
will be held accountable for your sickness;
CONSUME AT YOUR OWN RISK.
6. Enjoy!

The Phoenix

11

Sports: The Next Greats Golf

Zachary Wisnefsky
We are always looking for under the radar people.
They may not have a big win or a big game, but
they are always consistent. In this "The Next
Greats" article I will highlight five players in golf that
have the ability to become stars. Some stars shine
bright, but other times you have to look harder to
see them.

and has built up his game for nine years until now.

Matthew Fitzpatrick
A couple of weeks ago Finau won in Puerto Rico at
the Puerto Rico Open, jumpstarting his career. He
has been a very consistent player and has
performed well at major championships. Also, he
drives the ball a long way. Last year, he ranked 7th
in driving distance and is currently #1 on the year to
date. He is definitely flying under the radar and can
be an amazing player.

Maverick McNealy
Matthew Fitzpatrick is taking the golf world by
storm, but nobody is noticing. The Northwestern
graduate from Sheffield, England gained the #1
World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2013. In 2015, he
won the British Masters on the European Tour.
People still did not notice him. However, on the
final day of the Masters a few days ago, Matthew
shined. He shot a tremendous 67 at Augusta which
boosted him to even. This gave him a tied for
seventh finish, earning him $312,000.
Though he isn't turning any heads yet, he is only 21
and has a win. In the current World Golf Rankings,
he is listed at 39which is very good. If he continues
this stretch of play, watch out.

Tony Finau
Tony Finau has a win this year already and is poised
for a great season. He is cousins with football
players Haloti Ngata and Sione Pouha and
basketball player Jabari Parker. He turned pro at 17

Maverick McNealy is currently a Junior at Stanford

University. In three years, he has already
accomplished many great feats. As a sophomore,
he won six events and won the Nicklaus and Haskin
awards. He is the son of Scott McNealy, whose net
worth is one billion dollars. Scott Mcnealy actually
played golf at Harvard and is considered one of the
best executive golfers.
Maverick currently has ten victories in college and if
Continued on next page (12).

12
(Continued from page 11.)
he wins two more,
he would have the school record. By doing that he
would pass two Stanford greats: Tiger Woods and
Patrick Rodgers. If Maverick can continue this
stretch of golf, he can be a household name in the
near future.

Patrick Rodgers
Patrick Rodgers finally has his tour card and is ready
to take the world by storm. Like Maverick McNealy
he is a Stanford alumni and had double-digit
victories there. Last season, Rodgers was on the
Web.com tour. He won a tournament on the tour
and earned his PGA Tour with a top 25 season
finish. On the year to date, Patrick has two top tens

Volume X Issue 5
and is 60th in the Fedex Cup. He is playing very
consistently and it seems like he is very close to his
first victory on tour. Watch out for Patrick Rodgers.

Beau Hossler

You may remember Beau Hossler from the 2012

U.S. Open when he was the low amateur. He held
the outright lead midway through the second
round. However, that was when he was 17 years old.
Now he is 21 and is a junior at University of Texas.
Last year he won one event and didn't have a finish
outside the top 20. He was the Big 12 player of the
year that year and there are no doubts that he will
contend for that award this year. Beau Hossler, like
all of these other players, definitely has a bright
future.

Sports Trivia!
Matthew Wisnefsky

3. Which NCAA D1 team has the most championships?

4. D'Brickashaw Ferguson missed one snap at left
tackle the last 10 years who played left tackle on
that play?
5. Before Carlos Correa this year, who were the last

Answers

2. Who is the only active pitcher to defeat all 30

teams?

6. Who are the only players to appear for all the

teams in an MLB division?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

1. Who was the last UMass WR drafted before

Tajae Sharpe?

three shortstop's to hit a homerun and get a stolen base on opening day?

Tim Berra (son of Yogi Berra)

John Lackey
Trinity squash
Darrelle Revis
Derek Jeter, Cesar Izturis, Jimmy Rollins
AL East-Kelly Johnson, AL West-Mark Mclemore, NL WestSteve Finley and Matt Herges NL Central-Cesar Izturis and
Ted Savage

Questions

The Phoenix

13

Comic: AP Testing Instructions

Tanishq Kancharla

Story: Anything Goes 4 (p.1)

Shefkije Dani
What if there was a game? A
horrible,
nastysometimes
calmlittle game. A game where
there were lives at stake and
prizes far more important than
money or fame. What if there
was a game where absolutely
anything goes/went?

In the last issue, Kacey told us about her private

life and sent us a picture of herself (to the left)! Visit
our website at phsphoenix.weebly.com/past-issues to
read the whole chapter!

Chapter 4: What Even?

Kacey,
I don't know who you've been hanging around,
but you're beautiful! You are very beautiful and you
Continued on next page (14).

14
(Continued from page 13.)
should very well
know that. I mean I may just have this one picture of
you, but I can tell a lot from it. You're beautiful, and
from your letters so far, very smart.
Wow, I sound like one I those guys who are just
whipped! It's actually very funny. I feel as if I can tell
you anything and we've known each other forever!
Also I dont understand how someone with so
much confidence and commitment to who they are
can feel as insecure as you make yourself out to be.
Trust me, Kace, you just do your thing and pay no
mind to salty people and degrading thoughts.
So anyway, if you are going to come down to
Connecticut you should stop by my place and take a
small break. I mean then we could actually meet face
to face and these letters wouldn't take so long to go
back and forth.
So what do you think? In fact you could all come
and stay! It would be like a huge sleepover! And I
really doubt my parents would mind, they would
never shut any of my friends out. Especially when
they are having issues or something going on in their
lives.
Hopefully you get back to me soon with an answer
so I can set some stuff up for all of us.
Andrew

I stare at his letter, my hands shaking in pure

happiness. I sense Rory as he walks over to me.
"Hey, Kacey. You okay? You seem a little pale," he
says, sitting on the rocks next to me.
"I think I'm fine, but I don't know," I reply. A
small smile escapes my lips.
"What's up?" he asks wrapping an arm over my
shoulder.
"I don't even know. The sky, birds, clouds, so
much!"
"Come on, Kace, you're not making any sense
right now. Well, you never make any sense but like
now its almost worse than usual," he winks jokingly.
"Whatever this is, you know you can tell me."
I look into my best friends blue eyes and tell him
what I should've said a few weeks ago. What I
should've told him at home, before we even left
Misty Brook. "you know when the elders told us that
we are looking for our parents our bio-moms and

Volume X Issue 5
dads. You know the ones we don't know. The ones
who were there one minute and then left. I think we
are the special bastards who have qualities to bring
anyone in the world to their knees just with a glare. I
think our destiny is to find these qualities as well as
our missing parent," the humor is gone and is
replaced with worry.
"Don't be crazy, Kace. We are just traveling
around the world for the hell of it. You heard our
moms. All we need to do is have fun and maybe find
our missing parent along the way," he says,
seriously.
"How come we are by ourselves? Why did we
train with weapons? Why aren't we on a plane or
something? Explain to me, what the hell that is
about?" I go off on a tangent. "What makes it okay
for twelve 16 year olds to travel the world on their
own for 2 years with no adults and no idea where to
go? What makes it okay for us to go find the people
who left us when we were babies and then never
drop us a note or a check every now and then? What
makes it okay-"
"Just stop!" He yells as a strong wind whips
across my face.
"I won't not as long as you keep being so
oblivious about the world!" A strong stream of
water hits him square in the face. "What was that?"
He spits the water out, "I don't know. I was just
getting really angry with you and then bam, you get
hit by some really strong wind! Then it's like the
river wanted to shove me away," he says, wringing
out his shirt.
"I don't know either, but whatever it was I hope
it doesn't happen again," I say fixing my hair.
"Well Kace let's go back to the maggots," he
helps me up and we go to the campfire. Sage, West,
Alice, and Ren are practicing with their swords on
one side of the setup. Angel, Mark, Piper, and Keith
are playing a card game. Then you have Clarity and
Rusty who are just reading, Clarity something with
flowers all over the cover and Rusty some car
manual. Rory goes to the card game and I lie down
on my stomach and start work on my letter.
Well Andrew...

Read more in the next issue!

The Phoenix

15

Stress-less Word Search!

D
Y
C
T
Q
L
W
A
A
P
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B
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B
O

Y
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X
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U
Q

D
A
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M

S
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F
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F
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D

X
A
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E
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W
W
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F
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B
J
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R
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P
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U
B
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A
B
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W
W
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Z
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L
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N
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D
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R
D

T
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A
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A
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U
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F
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A

X
B
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M

H
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Between tests and Tasks,

let go of your frustration
with this relaxing hunt
for lexemes!
Word List:
ACT

SAT

BUSY

STANDARDIZED

EXCITING

STUDY

HARDWORK

TEST

PLAYWRIGHT

UBU

PLAYWRITING

WORK

PORTFOLIO

Bonus: The
two Words of
the Edition!

PREPARE

Sudoku Corner
9

4 6 8

4
6

7 5 9

2 3

4 9

6
1 2

<Easy

Hard>

4
2
3 9 7
1 5

5 9 8 6 1

1
2
4

1 2 4

Solutions to last issues Sudoku and Word Search are on the Website:
phsphoenix.weebly.com under Past Issues!

16

Volume X Issue 5

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