The Phoenix

Check out the Phoenix online at:

phsphoenix.weebly.com

Issue 6
Volume X
June 1, 2016

Goodbye,
Faculty:
Interviews
from Retiring
Teachers
P. 7

Comic:
Looking
Forward to
Coming Back
P. 13

Recipe:
Andys
Pineapple
Muffins
P. 11

Volume X Issue 6

The Phoenix
Founded in 2007 by Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent
VOLUME X, ISSUE 6 STAFF
Editor-in-chief: Sarah Hill
Tech and Formatting Editor: Henry Hu
Worldly Associate Editor: Samantha DePalma
Writers: Sarah Hill, Samantha DePalma, Henry Hu, Erin
Dorsey, Hannah Beilinson, Matthew Wisnefsky, Shefkije Dani,
Tanishq Kancharla, Andrew Kelbley

Photography, Artwork, and Image Credits

Phoenix (p. 1, 2, 16): Ben Yacavone
Prom (p.4): baoyanji.com
Sun (p.4): science-all.com
Goodbye (p.5): Shutterstock Photos (shutterstock.com)
Pineapple (p.5): Guyanese Roots (guyaneseroots.com)
Yearbook Photos (p.7-10): 2015 Yearbook
Pineapple Muffins (p.11): Annies Eats (annies-eats.com)
DeAndre Jordan (p.11): LA Times (latimes.com)
Popes Soccer Team (p.12): (the42.ie)
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
Letter from the Editor..........................................................................................4
Word of the edition................................................................................................5
Crash Course Current Events...........................................................................6
Goodbye, Faculty..............................................................................................7-10
Recipe: Andys Morning-Practice Pineapple Muffins..................................11
Sports: Crazy Stories You May Not Have Heard...................................11-12
Comic: When We Get Back..................................................................................13
Fiction: Anything Goes 4............................................................................13-14
Goodbye Word Search........................................................................................15
Sudoku Corner......................................................................................................15
How to Contribute/Get Published.................................................................16

Phoenix FAQ
What is the Phoenix anyway?
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.

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)!

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.)

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!

Volume X Issue 6

June 2016 Calendar

Sunday

29

Monday

30
MEMORIAL DAY

Tuesday

31

Wednesday Thursday

*Teen Advisory

JUNE

NO SCHOOL Board (6pm7pm)

-Junior/ Senior Prom

(Aqua Turf)

NO SCHOOL

-Senior Class
Trip

12

13

14

15

-EXAMS B1 and
B2

-EXAMS B3/5
and B6

-Makeup Exam
Date
-Graduation
Rehearsal

20

21

22

19

Friday

-Tri-M
Induction (79pm)

-Concert
Choir/Band
Concert (79pm)

10

-EXAMS A1
and A2

-EXAMS A3/5
and A6

Saturday

11

16
17
SCHOOL
IS OUT!

18

23

25

24

First day of
Summer

Letter From the Editor

Dear Reader,
I cant believe its already here but it is in fact
the end of the year! As we rush towards finals and
the start of summer I find it incredible that Im going
to be a senior next year. But, more than that, I am
very thankful that WE were able to revive and reflourish The Phoenix let us hope it stays out of the
ashes!
Here we are met again with the important
dilemma of, what happens once we graduate? Will
our independent magazine continue to live and produce multiple issues for our readers? Will underclassmen step up to take charge? Currently, I admit
it, the outlook is bleak. At the moment, we have NO
underclassmen involved and this is a startling fact

that may be the downfall of our news magazine. It is

your help that I am seeking. We need more support
and we need the interest of underclassmen! We
need YOU to step up!
But, for now, I will let the issue rest, as we all
should enjoy a well-deserved summer! It has been
an interesting year, getting used to the new block
schedule and wondering what other changes are
soon to happen. I look forward to continuing work
with The Phoenix next year and recruiting (lets
hope) many underclassmen to continue our legacy!
Sincerely,
Sarah Hill
Editor-in-Chief, The Phoenix

The Phoenix

The Word of the Edition

Henry Hu
Hey readers! The year has gone by so fast, and
you may feel dizzy, not only from the speed of
proceedings, but from all of the knowledge
cramped in your noggin preparing to dive off right
at the last bell on June 15 . Just like students across
the globe sag their eyelids, so words of the English
language have historically been prone to misuse,
confusion, and laziness. As our way of saying
Farewell, School and Aloha, Summer, the words
of the edition are goodbye and pineapple.

bye-bye, or the repetition of bye,

reduplication.

called

th

Pineapple has a very simple originobviously it

is a compound word formed from pine and apple.
So it is just a special type of apple that grows on a
wait, what?

Goodbye shows simultaneously the deep

resonance of English history and the tendency for
people to mix words up and be lazy about it.
Surprisingly, the word goodbye comes from
constructions such as God-bwy and godbwye (late
1500s), which were common abbreviations for the
parting phrase God be with ye or God be with
you. Along the way, the god was mixed up with
good, which was already commonly being used in
such phrases as good morning, good evening, good
day, et cetera (about 1650s).
Before you become alarmed at the daily use of a
religious phrase by secular organizations, however,
realize that the word goodbye takes root in an old
church culture and, like the common God bless
you, In God We Trust, and even Happy Holydays, say less about religion and more about
humanity, politeness, and cultural continuity.
Later transformations include bye, or the
removal of good-, called clipping, and then even

The pineapple was named upon its discovery for

looking like a pinecone. At that time (early 1600s),
pinecones were called pineapples/pinenuts, or
apples/nuts fruits of pine trees (pine comes
directly from Latin). Whats interesting is that soon
after pineapples were named pineapples, people
started mixing them up with their brown, untasty
counterparts. This is why, since the 1690s, we call
pinecones pinecones instead of pineapples. And
once pine nuts were discoveredwell, thats a
different story.
Get this: the words apple and melon come from
roots meaning any fruit, the former in Germanic
languages and the latter in Latinate languages. But
pine is a Latinate word, not a Germanic wordthe
Germanic is firso should we really call pineapples
pinemelons?
Good luck trying to find these words in this
issueand in your daily lives! Thank you for a great
year of revival. Happy reading!
Yours Truly,
Henry Hu, Tech Co-editor

Volume X Issue 6

Crash Course Current Events

Erin Dorsey
From oil spills to Olympic cheating, this is what you missed
in world news:

Shell Oil Spills

Thousands of Gallons
The Gulf of Mexico took another hit from the oil
industry when almost 90,000 gallons spilled from an
offshore Shell facility earlier this May. A helicopter
spotted a sheen, measuring 2 by 13 miles, forming on
the surface of the ocean about 100 miles off the coast of
Louisiana. Shell officials believed the leak to be located
in their underwater pipe system, and shut oil flow in the
area. Shell quickly mobilized to stop the leak and
deploy response vehicles, but environmentalists are
nevertheless concerned of the damage to the
ecosystem. Oil industry regulations have been
tightened following the massive BP oil spill of 2010, but
despite added precautions many environmental
advocates insist that offshore drilling cannot be done
safely.

Doping Scandal To
Affect Rio Olympics
As a result of recent investigations of Olympic athletes
suspected of taking performance-enhancing steroids,
over 50 individuals could be barred from the 2016
Summer Olympic games in Rio. Officials from the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been
retesting doping samples, using new methods, from
both the 2012 London and 2008 Beijing Summer
Olympics. These tests uncovered possible evidence that
numerous athletes, set to compete in the Rio games in
a few months, used performance enhancing drugs in
past Olympics. Approximately half of these athletes
competed on behalf of Russia, which supports the
account of a Russian official who detailed the process in
which the Russian government provided athletes with
steroids and helped them beat doping tests. The IOC
has stated that it will conduct more testing before
deciding whether athletes who tested positive would

have to say goodbye to their 2016 Olympic chances.

States Sue Over

Transgender Rights Bill
Following North Carolinas bathroom bill (check out
the May edition for more details), the Obama
administration ordered public schools across the
country to allow transgender students to use the
restroom corresponding with their gender identities.
Weeks later, 11 states, lead by Texas, announced their
plan to sue the administration over this directive. The
lawsuit complains that the order is a massive social
experiment and is running roughshod over
commonsense policies. Texas attorney general Ken
Paxton asserted that the lawsuit is about defending the
constitution and states rights, while federal officials
have said that there is constitutional foundation to
defend civil rights, including the rights of transgender
individuals. If the lawsuit does not succeed, states who
dont comply with the directive stand to lose federal
funding for education.

EygptAir Plane Crash

Remains a Mystery
During the early morning of May 19th EgyptAir flight
804 from Paris to Cairo disappeared from Greek and
Egyptian radar screens over the Mediterranean Sea. All
66 passengers are presumed dead. According to the
Greek Defense Minister, the plane swerved left and
right before plunging dramatically. Egyptian officials
disagree, reporting that the plane did not swerve or lose
altitude before vanishing. Small pieces of debris and
human remains have been recovered but the planes
black box, which provides a recording of the flight, is
yet to be located. Officials have not yet concluded the
cause of the crash, but some believe there was an
explosion due to the nature of the debris found as well
as reports of smoke in parts of the vessel sent by plane
software before its disappearance.

The Phoenix

Goodbye, Faculty
Interviews with Retiring Teachers
Hannah Beilinson
This year there are an unusually high number of
teachers retiring from Pomperaug High School due to
a retirement incentive given by Region 15. The details
of the incentive are complicated, but essentially the
region is saying that if teachers retire this year, they
will earn an extra year of salary in addition to the
standard retirement payments. The extra year of
salary will be tax-free and paid out over five years.
This does not mean that suddenly every teacher in the
school will be retiring, but it is enough of an incentive
for teachers who were thinking of leaving in the next
few years to retire this year instead. The region has
this system because the younger and newer teachers
who will be hired to replace the retirees earn
significantly lower salaries than experienced teachers,
and tend to have lower healthcare costs. This allows
the region to save a large amount of money. The
incentive is only offered in years when there are a
significant number of teachers who are eligible for
retirement (typically teachers who have been working
for at least 35 years or are over 60 years old).
Therefore, it cannot happen very often, heightening
the incentive for faculty to retire this year, rather than
to wait.

...we have to say goodbye

To many of our most
Beloved teachers.
All of these administrative details aside, the basic
result of the incentive (also called a buy-out) is that we
have to say goodbye to many of our most beloved
teachers. I decided to ease the farewells by
interviewing as many of the retiring teachers as
possible. I asked each one to respond to a list of
questions about their time at Pomperaug and their
plans for the future.

Mrs. Bachman, Science

(Chemistry):
Mrs. Bachman was interviewed in person,
rather than by email like the others.
1. How long have you been working at
Pomperaug?
Ive been at Pomperaug for 30 years; I came in 1986.
2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?
My plan is to spend more time with my grandkids (and
hopefully there will be more grandkids). I may be
moving closer to them. Im going to take a trip in the
fall. Im going to go out to Notre Dame to see my two
nieces who go there. So thats it. I dont have any huge
plans, but I want to spend more time with family.
3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?
Im going to miss two things the most. One is the kids,
because the kids are great, they love to learn. I like to
see the spark of interest that comes when kids are in
the classroom. The second thing is my department. I
have a phenomenal department that I work with, very
supportive and fun and I come to work and laugh
every day. Science/math is a great, great department,
so Im going to miss my colleagues.
4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
Time to relax and work on some hobbies. I love
weather, so I want to see if I can get a weather station
at my house, kind of feed into a network. And do a
little more gardening, more volunteer work. I like to
volunteer, maybe at St. Vincent de Paul or a shelter.
And Im looking forward to not getting up at 5 am.
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?

Continued on next page (8).

8
(Continued from page 7.) Take advantage of the
wonderful opportunities here at Pomperaug. Work
hard, stay focused, set goals and try to achieve them.
For graduating seniors, some of the same things.
Work hard, take advantage of the opportunities that
youre given. One big thing is work hard to make the
world a better place. We all need to do our part to try
to be unselfish, consider others instead of ourselves
and be it in a job or be it with family or friends, to
really put others ahead of ourselves and work toward
trying to save our world.

Doc J (Dr. Miller),

Science (Physics):
1. How long have you been working at
Pomperaug?
16 wonderful years.
2. Do you have any plans for your
retirement?
Travel, play lots of golf, maybe tutor physics.
3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?
The students and staff.
4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
New adventures and sleeping past 5:00 am.
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?
Challenge conventional wisdom. Follow your dreams,
but take courses for a career backup plan. Do not be
afraid to fail. Take calculated risks.
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
All great people think outside the box and are risk
takers. You can be successful and still care about
other people ([and their] successes).

Mr. Knapp, Tech Ed

1. How long have you been working at Pomperaug?
I was hired at the end of August, 2001.

Volume X Issue 6
2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?
I will finish the garage I am currently
building, work on various home
improvement, street rod, motorcycle and
gardening projects. Ill be traveling to
England and Scotland at the end of June,
then Florida to visit my daughters and grandson,
Montana to visit my sister and her new house.
Vermont and Argentina are also on the short list. In
between various hunting and fishing expeditions Ill
probably start another business.
FOLLOW-UP: What was your previous business?
I've had multiple and varied jobs in the past giving me
a well-rounded background. In manufacturing, I built
everything from race cars, printing and converting
equipment, plastic injection molding equipment,
robots just to name a few. I've done every phase of
construction from clearing the lot to the top of the
chimney. After I was plant engineer at Curtis
Packaging in Sandy Hook for approximately 10 years. I
owned a business that imported and exported printing
and converting equipment along with training, parts
and service. Another business I owned that is still
active here in Southbury imports graphic converting
supplies. I was also a part owner in a coating
company think glossy paperback book covers,
cosmetic boxes, etc. I'm not sure what my next
business will be yetprobably something in
manufacturing, we need more of that here in CT.
3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?
Student learning objectives (SLOs). Kidding! Probably
the faculty and underclassmen I leave behind, but
dont worry, Ill stop by for visits.
4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
Freedom, long motorcycle trips and elk hunting in the
fall which I havent been able to do since I started
teaching again.
FOLLOW-UP: Where do you elk hunt?
I previously did some elk hunting in Colorado above

Continued on next page (9).

The Phoenix
Aspennext time probably Montana. It's beautiful,
big country out there. Truly awe inspiring.
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?
Persevere. Dont be the wait generation. You have
the power and the ability to reach any goal.
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Youre only dancing on this earth for a short while.

Dont be the
Wait generation.
You have the power...
Valhalla I am coming.

Ms. Lindsey, Resource:

9
and you will go on to be the person you want to
be...not the person who your friends think you should
be. Get started early. Start to do what you know is
right today instead of waiting until tomorrow.
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes. In addition to the students, I am going to miss
seeing my colleagues on a daily basis. The faculty and
staff at PHS are the best anywhere. It has been an
honor to work with them.

Ms. Heavens, Resource:

1. How long have you been working at
Pomperaug?
I have been working at Pomperaug High
School for sixteen years.
2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?

I have been working at Pomperaug for 16 years!

My retirement plan is have fun with more yoga &

Pilates, reading for pleasure, & exploring more of our
national and state parks.

2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?

3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?

I have been working with Fundacin Sor

Dominga Bocca, a foundation for abused
and neglected girls in Guayaquil, Ecuador
for a number of years. I am looking
forward to having more time to work with
the foundation and the girls as well as more of an
opportunity to travel to other parts of the world.

Working with bright and creative people of all ages is

what I will miss most about PHS. I enjoy being with a
large number of people.

3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?

5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?

The students, the students, the students. Did I

mention the students?

My advice to Phoenix readers is to work hard, be kind,

and never give up hope.

4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?

Mr. Bass, Social Studies:

1. How long have you been working at Pomperaug?

I am NOT going to miss having to follow bells all day

long and carrying a lot of bags in and out of school
everyday.
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?
High school is not life. These days will come to an end,

4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?

I look forward to more free time, sleep, and less
computer work.

1. How long have you been working at

Pomperaug?
Goodness...I've been here at Pomperaug
for 35 years.
2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?
My retirement plans are a little vague right now, but I

Continued on next page (10).

10
(Continued from page 9.) would like to continue
working with kids, perhaps as a tutor for homebound
students. I'll certainly keep reading history and
politics in my spare time.
3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?
I'll miss my friends on the staff, for certain, but I'll most
miss my students and those wonderful moments
when ideas start clicking.
4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
I'll enjoy having the time to slow down and to reflect
on what I read and see, and I look forward to being
able to spend more time with my aging parents.
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?
As far as advice goes, all I can offer is to just live your
own lives as joyfully and fully as possible, to play nice
with the people around you, and to remember that
you keep your humanity by living humanely and by
helping others to do the same.
BONUS QUESTION: On a scale of one to ten, how much
do you like pineapples?
Seven. Six or seven.

Volume X Issue 6
donuts on random Fridays, refereeing Dodgeball for
Diabetes, Monday afternoon holiday Debate Team
practices with the PHS version of Apples-to-Apples,
hello's from students in the hallways, and those ahhah moments in writing conferences with students.
4. What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
I am most looking forward to not having to get up at
5:30 in the morning and not having to be somewhere
when a bell rings!
5. Do you have any parting advice for Phoenix readers?
Do you have any specifically for graduating seniors, as a
fellow person leaving Pomperaug?
To those students leaving Pomperaug, I would say, as I
plan to do, allow time for your mind and your body to
wander. Take a yoga class, go for a walk in the woods,
have tea and cookies.
BONUS QUESTION: On a scale of one to ten, how much
do you like pineapples?
If I were in Hawaii, and it was really fresh, a definite
ten!
Additional faculty retiring include:
Mr. Miklavzina, Resource

Ms. Hartshorn, English:

1. How long have you been working at Pomperaug?
I have been teaching at Pomperaug for 17 years.
2. Do you have any plans for your retirement?
As far as retirement, I will most certainly
continue to be involved in education in
some way, shape, or form: maybe a private
college essay coaching business, maybe an
itinerant, fly-in, writer-in-residence for
isolated bush communities up in Alaska, maybe work
with wanna-be English teachers.
3. What are you going to miss most about Pomperaug?
I will most miss the camaraderie of my colleagues in
the Resource Center, Humanities Department Dottie's

The Phoenix wishes all of these teachers the best with

their future endeavors, whether that be elk hunting or
just reading a good book. You will all be sorely missed
at Pomperaug. Among you are some of the strongest
supporters of The Phoenix, through all our ups and
downs. So from The Phoenix staff, and the whole
student body, thank you.
I would additionally like to add that I am a senior, and
so this is my last article in The Phoenix. Ive loved being
part of the paper for the past four years, and I wish its
staff and readers the best of luck with everything. Im
grateful for all the opportunities The Phoenix has given
me, and I am especially grateful to Sarah and Henry
for bringing back from the ashes this awesome part of
Pomperaugs culture.

The Phoenix

11

Recipe: Andys Morning Practice

Pineapple Muffins
Muffins are delicious! Every day after morning swim
practice, I need a muffin. Normally, I go to Dunkin
Donuts and ask for two low-fat blueberry muffins,
please! (The low-fat ones have less of the annoying
crumbly sugar on top.) Sadly, though, there are
times when they are closed or simply have no more
low-fat blueberry muffins, and I have to make my
large, moist, delicious fruity muffins at home. I
learned this easy recipe for blueberry muffins from
my mother at some point, but to be seasonal Ive
substituted pineapple for blueberries. Any fruit
would be good.

Ingredients:
12/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup crushed pineapple

Recipe:
1. In a large bowl, sift together the salt, flour, and
baking powder.
2. Add the other ingredients and mix!
3. The batter should be somewhat wet and lumpy.
Fill your muffin tins way.
4. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Enjoy!.

Sports: Crazy Stories, Unnoticed

Matthew Wisnefsky
There have been many crazy sports stories that
have not gotten as much media attention due to
the fact that other events have taken place when
these events occurred. Here are some examples.

DeAndre Jordan's
Contract Negotiations
It is well known how during last NBA offseason
DeAndre Jordan was planning on leaving the
Continued on next page (12).

12
(Continued from page 11.)

Clippers for the

Mavericks but shocked the world by changing his
mind at the last second and staying with the
Clippers. Most people, however, dont know how
much of a debacle that it really turned out to be.
As of the night of July 3, Jordan agreed to a verbal
deal with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas
Mavericks, to sign with them. To celebrate, Mark
Cuban offered to fly Jordan and his family to Dallas,
but instead Jordan wanted to fly to his home in
Houston. On July 7, Jordan called his teammate
Blake Griffin saying he was unsure of his decision,
and Griffin decided to fly to Houston to help Jordan.
By this time word had spread in the media that
Jordan was unsure of his decision. Clippers coach
Doc Rivers called Jordan, and he too decided to go
to Jordan's house in Houston to try to sign him.
The next day Clippers forward Paul Pierce, owner
Steve Ballmer, guard JJ Redick, and star point guard
Chris Paul all went to Jordans house in Houston.
Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons, who was
helping Cuban with Jordan's recruiting, tweeted an
emoji of a plane to make it seem like he was going
to fly to Houston to try and persuade Jordan to go
to the Mavericks. Then JJ Redick tweeted a picture
of a car, Blake Griffin Hawaii, Chris Paul a banana
boat, and Paul Pierce a rocket. At Jordan's families
house, the Clippers discussed their differences, and
were able to solve the issues that led Jordan to
almost leaving in the first place.
By mid afternoon Jordan had agreed to a contract,
but new contracts couldn't be official until 11:01 pm
local time, so they waited at the house and played
games. The media thought the situation was very
tense and drama-filled, and Blake Griffin decided to
tweet a fake picture of a chair blocking the door to
make it seem like a hostage situation. The problem
is that Jordan had not told the Mavericks of his
changed decision...

Volume X Issue 6

Aroldis Chapman and the

Pastries
Back in 2013 when Aroldis Chapman was pitching
with the Cincinnati Reds in a game against the
Phillies, he was pitching and leading in the bottom
of the 9th inning, when suddenly he allowed two
homeruns and lost the game. This was surprising as
Chapman is one of the most lockdown closers in the
game, his fastball regularly 100+ miles an hour. A
reason that he blew the save was revealed a few
days later. Chapman is Cuban, and Phillies Spanish
language broadcaster Rickie Ricardo said in an
interview that Cuban ballplayers usually ask him to
pick up pastries at a nearby Cuban bakery. The
pastries that these players like are filled with cream
cheese and guava, but as Ricardo said "If you eat
more than two you are clogging your arteries."
Usually these Cuban players like Livan Hernandez
ask for 10 or 15, Chapman asked for 100, when
Ricardo saw him on Sunday before the game he had
eaten 18 and looked like he couldn't breathe, and
that could have caused him to blow the save.

The Popes Soccer Team

The Pope is a big soccer fan as he is from Argentina

where soccer is a very popular sport. So in 2014, he
decided to create his own team to promote nonviolence, their motto is "No hooligans, no violence,
and no insults." However, they got, not one, but two
red cards, which isn't exactly the best start for non
violence.

The Phoenix

13

Comic: When We Get Back

Tanishq Kancharla

Story: Anything Goes 5/6

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 was
surprised to receive a letter! Visit

our website at phsphoenix.weebly.com/past-issues to

read the whole chapter!

Chapter 5
Well Andrew,
I think we can manage a couple of days off from
this experience... I'd rather a couple of years, but life must
move forward. I brought it up to the rest and the first thing
they said was "HALLELUJAH!" So that means we'll
probably be around in a week. At least then we'll finally

Continued on next page (14).

14
(Continued from page 13.)

Volume X Issue 6
get to meet face to

face!
In addition to this little happiness for all of us, I
want your help with something. There have been these
weird things going on recently. Clarity can somehow
actually start fires now, Rory's anger turns a simple, calm
breeze into a raging wind storm, and I can't get wet in
water anymore. It's like we've been struck by a lightning
bolt or something! Don't even get me started on the
others.
The point I'm trying to make is, all of us are going
through something so totally and unpredictably,
impossible, that the others are lost on how to react to it. I
need your help, Andrew. I need the mind of someone not
used to the bullshit I go through everyday. I think you're
that person.
Look I'm not begging or anything, I could figure
this out on my own if I have to. I just can't. So will you
help?
With all the love I can muster, your friend or pen
pal,
Kacey
This letter was sent four days ago. That means I
shouldn't bother sending one back. Right?

Chapter 6
I pace around the foyer, debating on whether or not I
had a good call on telling Kacey she could just come
here. I mean she could be some weirdo who just found
my address online or something!
No, no, this is Kacey you're talking about, she
wouldn't do something like that to you, my conscience
tells me.
"Drew calm down, it's just a girl," Drea says,
punching my shoulder.
I give her a look and keep pacing. "I don't know her
all to well, stupid! She could be a serial killer for all we
know!"
"Look, if all this stuff about Misty Brook is true, then
maybe you aren't crazy after all, and you have a new
friend!" she says, standing in my path. My sister may be
twins with me, but she is absolutely Eric's sister, both so
nave and stupid. It's a wonder they've lived this long.
"Look Andrea, it all seems kinda weird to me that on
the day I start giving up on the mystical things like Misty
Brook, some girl writes me a letter saying that she's from
this town and she's on some mission with her best
friends," Drea opens her mouth to say something but I
cut her off. "I mean, she's pretty and knows how to get
her point across, and actually needs me, but something's
fishy about how quickly Mom and Dad agreed to have

her and her crew over for a few nights."

"Yeah, I know! How come you can have complete
strangers over for three nights and I have to prepare my
guest list for a sleepover three months in advance?" She
whines.
"Because Mom knows how important meeting this
mystery girl is to me," I say, starting my pacing again.
"You. Are. Whipped," Erik says, walking through the
door. He had on a cheeky smirk that told me he was
planning something big.
"Shut up, at least I understand people unlike you
two, " I snap.
"Woah, calm down feisty pants," I hear from behind
me. The voice is low-pitched, but definitely female. I turn
around and look at the person. Her long dirty blonde hair
is tied back with little tendrils framing her long, pale face
and making her hazel eyes look mysterious. She's
wearing a black tank top with little black birds peeking
on her collarbone, I didn't know she had tattoos. Behind
her and outside the door there are a bunch of other
people with similar yet different attitudes.
"Kacey?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. She smiles
a cheeky little smile and walks in a little more.
"Where's my hug, loser?" She smirks.
I walk to her carefully and slowly wrap my arms
around her shoulders. Her hands carefully wrap around
my waist and she places her head on my chest.
"Hey," she whispers.
"Hey." My chin rests on her head as we stand there
for a moment, in shock of meeting the other. A forced
cough from one of Kacey's groupies makes us jump
apart.
Erik uses this chance to become his cheeky little self.
"Hello and welcome to La Casa de Vega, may I take your
bags and carry you up to your rooms, where you will see
a splendid ocean view along with an old lady attempting
to shave her legs?"He bows a little and holds his bowed
position long enough for Andrea to come behind and
kick him in the ass. He falls forward onto his face his butt
remaining in the air as everyone laughs like crazy...

Hey guys, Shefkije here, now that the school year is practically over, I won't be able to get you guys the end of this
chapter or the next chapter after this. But if you've actually followed their story from the beginning, you can follow
it even further at <<https://www.wattpad.com/
story/5629123-anything-goes>> where I keep all of my
writing and try to keep the story as updated as possible.
Thanks for reading my story and I hope you guys have an
amazing summer

The Phoenix

15

Goodbye Word Search!

T
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I

Celebrate the last days of

school with this send-off
pursuit of character
strings!
Word List:
ALOHA

RELAX

BEACH

RETIREMENT

CLIPPING

SENIORS

ENDOFYEAR

SUMMER

GRADUATION

SUN

HOT

VACATION

OILSPILL

Bonus: The
two Words of
the Edition!

OLYMPICS

Sudoku Corner
7

1
8
4

1
8

3 1 4

6 2

9 8 4

9 2 8

<Easy

5
3

Hard>

2 5
1 8

9 2

2 8 3

6
3

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

16

Volume X Issue 6

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