She is making noodles for herself. The water bubbles and boils like the laugh of a child and the
thick udon noodles swirl slightly in the pot. She portions out a generous chunk of the stew, making sure to pick out the sharp bony pieces. The smell of chili oil and tender beef fills the tiny apartment, wrapping
around her like a familiar embrace.
On a Tuesday morning that already felt like a Monday, Zach stumbled into the kitchen for
breakfast. But instead of the hum of the refrigerator, he heard… nothing. Then a loud ahem.
If I could talk to myself from five years ago, I would be eight years old. The first thing I would say
is, “Have fun and enjoy everything! Time goes by really fast.” When I was eight, that was when
COVID-19 started. Everyone had to stay home, wear masks, and not go outside. At first it felt kind
of fun because I didn’t have to go to school, but after a while I got really bored. I missed my friends,
my teachers, and even just being outside with other people. Still, even with all that, I feel like those
years went by so quickly.
There are many wonders of the ocean, including a superpower that only some fish have! It is
called biofluorescence and is when a fish can absorb light and release it, causing the fish itself
to glow. Not only are the fish getting superpowers, but deep below in the sea at a place called
the mesopelagic zone (often called the twilight zone), which is 200 to 1,000 meters deep.
This summer, young writers from all over the world joined The Journal Bootcamp to learn about current events, write creatively, and get published! Students worked closely with their dedicated coaches each week to edit and refine their writing, until it was worthy of a feature in an online magazine.
In the morning, the river moves slowly.
Mist floats above it,
water flows over rocks.
A bird lands on a branch, watches, then leaves.
The river keeps going.
