Ray. “Think of everything you have ever read, everything you have ever learned from holding a book in your hands and how that knowledge shaped you and made you who you are today.” -Ray Bradbury

Mondays. Mondays. By Aaron r. Mondays. He hated them. The guy on the right side of the bench. The guy in the right side of the bench is Franklin Summers and he's wearing a nice suit, the suits you could never afford off a day's pay. He's also wearing a hat that almost certainly was taken straight out of one of those 1940s detective movies. The black and white ones. The oldies. Summer heat. He hate it. The guy on the left side of the bench. The guy on the left side of the bench is Jackson Munn Days and he's also wearing a nice suit, the suits you could never afford off a week's pay. He's wearing a hat as well, and a nice one at that. These men are nice dressers and hate things. Common items. "I hate Mondays. Hate em." Franklin bellows out. This bus can't come fast enough. "How bout you fella? Don'tcha hate Momdays? I hate em." "Yes, you already said that." Jackson replies elegantly. Like a prince. A dashing prince. The ones with dimples. "I-excuse me?" Franklin frankly has never quite been so rudely and elegantly spoken to. "Did I stutter, sir?" "...why, no. But why are you speaking to me this way?" "In what way may I be speaking to you, sir? Is my vocabulary too in depth and properly spoken for you to intake? Please forgive me if I may come off as more superior or more intellectualized than you are or may be. Deepest apologies." Franklin has just about lost everything, including his pocket watch. The pocket watches you could never afford. . . .ever. "What is your name?" Franklin loudly and bluntly asks. "Jackson Munn Days. But you may call my Mr. Munn Days." Franklin has now lost his pocket watch. His jaw hangs to the floor and the bus he has so anxiously been anticipating has finally arrived. Mr. Munn Days grabs his briefcase, fixes his nicely fit hat, and stands upward, displaying an open hand for Franklin to shake upon disembarking. "I'm sorry I did not catch your name?" Franklin has not moved his mouth, nor anything else he can move of his body. "Another speechless. Of course. Right then! Tally ho!" Munn Days tips his hat farewell, allows the other passengers to step off the bus, then climbs aboard, never to be seen again. The bus exerts an enormous amount of wonderful pollution and journeys off down the concrete jungle. Franklin slowly regains his conscious as another fairly dressed man arrives next to him, slowly positioning himself on the left side of the bench. Franklin looks over his way. "Excuse me sir, I don't mean to bother you, but did you by any chance happen to see another man sitting next to me? Similarly dressed like myself?" "I'm sorry sir, but I do not believe I have. What is your name? My name is Franklin MunDey."

Youth Youth By Aaron R. "We could play hide and seek in here!" Says the chunky, rotund youth as he ruffles his greasy hands through his thick, rich hair. The other three young ones look up in amazement at the grand scale of the hotel lobby. The smell of sweet pine engulfs their senses as they display mischievous grins from across their countenance, ear to ear. Without a care in the world they gaze upward. Unaware of the troubles and quarrels #life is ready to throw upon them, their youthful years unwind with every second. They do not notice it, for time has a conniving way of passing unnoticed - a thief in the night, a broken heart uncared for. Johnny, as he is named, scratches his thick belly beneath his warm jacket. "Hey you guys what do you think!" The others turn toward him, still gawking at the illustrious sight in front of them. "What?" Replies Richie, the slender blonde boy who perfectly resembles a heroic child from those old tales spoken throughout the ages. His appearance alone emits a radiant beam of glory, heroism, and overall superior authority amongst the gang. A "Ralph" of sorts. Johnny explains his previous question, "Hide and seek! We should play! My mom is over there checking in for our room. We have some time." He points toward the registration counter. His mother stands calmly. "I don't know. Won't we get into trouble?" These words echo from the tongue of the third companion of the youthful gang, Brett. He's quite calm. Glasses rest upon the tip of his nose, his hair neatly combed to the right side. His appearance gives away his interests. He's aware of the consequences of the previous stunts the gang has pulled off in public, one of which required the confiscation of his chemistry kit. Courtney, the skillful fourth member, gives Brett a look of shame. "Brett, nothing will go wrong. You'll be okay!" Sadie speaks with confidence. Her naturally curly hair repeatedly bugs her, but her uncaring attitude helps her care not as much as most. She follows the others and is quite strong in all her elegance. "Well I don't know-" Brett looks upward at the towering lobby they stand within. A whole new world; a brave new world. "C'mon let's play!" Johnny cannot contain his excitement any longer. The jitters of extraordinary excitement are emitting from within him. He shakes Richie in glee, to which he replies with a sinister smile to the others. "Not it!" He blurts, startling the other guests residing in their own worlds, their own concerns, unaware of the beauty of #life unfolding in front of them. Brett jumps in startlement as Johnny and Sadie repeat the famous two word statement, leaving him in lonesome fear. They skip around him in gleeful play before running up the hotel stairs to their awaiting hiding spots. Brett shrugs, shaking his head as he sits next to a rather odd looking, tall young man who had been observing the entire event unfold. The man looks over at Brett counting away, already at twenty-four. The man smiles and makes a note on his phone, "Story ideas: youthful gang play hide and seek in hotel; adolescent years are wonderful; #life is beautiful". Brett peaks his head up as he finishes counting and departs on his exquisite quest to find his friends in the enormous new world. The man smiles and watches as Brett disappears into the rush of the crowd that's begun to enter the hotel. "Youthful #life," he says, "the years we wish we had had again." Time continued onward. The birds continued to sing.

Breathe A blue-black shade of love. Sent from above. My hands are tied, two worlds alone, And this I know. Your breath's like wine, And just like clouds, my skin crawls. It's so divine, the sky it glows with fields of light. Did you know that I love you? Come and lay with me. I love you. And on this day, I love you. You make me feel alive, And I'll love you Until the end of time. My hands shake clasped with fear, as you come near To say goodnight, just like a dove. A peaceful sign. To help us by, as you come in, Let this begin. Stars fall like dust, our lips will touch, We speak too much. Did you know that I love you? Come and lay with me. I love you. And on this day, I love you. You make me feel alive, And I'll love you Until the end of time. Did you know that I love you? Come and lay with me. I love you. And on this day, I love you. You make me feel alive, And I'll love you Until the end of time. I've got a lot to say, if you will let me It's always hard, when you're around me But here right now, there's interest in your eyes So hear me out, and hear this the first time That I... love you (come and lay with me) That I... love you (and on this day) That I... love you (you make me feel alive) That I... love you Till the end of time

A Letter April 1, 1863 7 in the evening hour My dear beloved, Only time will tell upon which the enemy will break over the cascade of hilltops resting ahead of me. My fellow soldiers and I were given precise instructions to defend this here border of Gettysburg, a small town in the state of Pennsylvania. I know this war has kept me longer and farther away from you than we both had expected, but these are the circumstances and duties that have been set before me. God has seen it fit that my inward heart be changed into a more humble man for thee. This unsettling war is mighty in many ways, my love, but I am writing to you in full health and what grace I have left within me. There is talk amongst the men that a means of peace is in the works, that this devilish war may finally meet its end. To make even the worse of things there is news that a probable document is set to abolish the deed of slavery. I do say love, this world is changing. For the better? I do not know. Yet within me I fear for the generations to come. Only time will tell, but may God guide us through the inevitable. I pray, wait for me. Do not leave me for that of another. My love for you is eternal, bound for the ages to come. Time may very well move forward and death will arrive at our doorstep - sooner me than ever - but this will not remove the everlasting bond of love shared between us. I will write in the morning break in the first hour if God Himself finds fit for #life to keep me sustained. With love, H. W. Plainview