College Crow Committee: Priyanka (Priya) Bhadri (Year 10), Lumbini (Lulu) Catalano (Year 10), Victoria Chan (Year 10), Alyssa Chang (Year 11), Stephanie Cheang (Year 10), Faye Chen (Year 8), Nancy Chen (Year 10), Siyi (Selina) Chen (Year 8), Yu Ting Chen (Year 10), Stephanie Chew (Year 11), Yilan Chow (Year 11), Emily Doust (Year 10), Chloe Fang (Year 9), Isabella Fu (Year 10), Jasmine Gifford (Year 11), Sophie Graham (Year 11), Kathy Guo (Year 9), Chloe He (Year 10), Zi Fei Iris (Iris) Hon (Year 9), Aileen Huang (Year 11), Jasmine Huang (Year 10), Qirun (Amanda) Huang (Year 10), Xinran (Ruby) Huang (Year 11), Xiaofan (Amy) Jia (Year 9), Sophia Kelleher (Year 10), Madeleine Kijvanit (Year 8), Chloe Kwok (Year 11), Chloe Li (Year 8), Kristine Liu (Year 11), Xinyue (Kitty) Liu (Year 9), Isabella Loo (Year 11), Olivia Loo (Year 8), Chloe Luo (Year 7), Anastasia Mouzos (Year 10), Do Quyen (Quyen) Nguyen (Year 9), Euna Oh (Year 11), Lola Pittams (Year 9), Anna Prokhorov (Year 7), Chrysolite (Chrysty) Salla (Year 10), Reina Shi (Year 11), Maggie Su (Year 9), Kelly Sun (Year 10), Helena Tuo (Year 8), Danielle Vo (Year 10), Angelina Wang (Year 10), Cindy Wang (Year 11), Tiffany Xie (Year 8), Youtan (Rachel) Yang (Year 11), Ziqi Yang (Year 10), Tiffany Yi (Year 10), Tanika Young (Year 11), Cathy Zeng (Year 11), Olivia Zhang (Year 7).
Front cover illustration: Jasmine Gifford (Year 11)
Back cover illustration: Amanda Huang (Year 10).
Stock images: Elements throughout magazine provided by Canva
From the Editors
BeingbehindthescenesoftheCollegeCrow hasopenedmyeyestohowthismagazineisa labouroflove.Everytimesomeonesendsmean illustration or design I’m left with my jaw dropped-you’dneverbelievethethingsthese girlscandowithCanva,anApplePencil,anda dream. Not to mention the writers I always admirefortheirmovingwaywithwordsSeeing everyone’stalentscometogethergivesmeahit ofdopamineeachsemesterthatI’llneverget sickof.
Thankyoutomywonderfulco-captainand beloved‘Onionchild’ReinaShi-trustmewhenI sayIwouldhavediedunderamountainof emailsifnotforher.ToMsMunro,whoinher wisdomhasperfectedthebalanceofmanaging over50ofuswithinextratightdeadlinesand beingthesweetestpersonReinaandIhavehad theprivilegeofbeingmentoredbyWithoutyou andyourtrustyspreadsheetswe’dbewelland trulylostAndtoallthemembers,thankyou,be eversoproudofyourefforts.Assomeonewho always left my Crow deadlines to the last minute,Ihaveanewfoundappreciationforyou girlsgettingyourpiecesinontime
Thisthemefeelslikeatributetoallofits predecessors;anamalgamationofnature,time, pop culture, fashion, you name it! I see the CollegeCrowasourveryown‘GardenofTime’ It’saspaceforgrowth,ahistoryrecordofeach student’s unique voice and imagination amountingtosomethingverybeautiful.Ihope allyoulittleseedlingskeeponthrivingEnjoythis issueandthepassionpresentwithineverypage.
ThankyoutoIsabellaLoo,my‘Onionmum’,who hasbeenthereeverystepoftheway,supporting andhelpingme;especiallythroughourexams. Thank you to Ms Munro, who has been so supportive and kind, sharing her knowledge accumulatedovertheyearsShehasbeenour rock,keepingusgroundedandonschedule; creatingwhatinmanywaysisafamilywherewe allbuildontopofeachother’stalents.SoIhope youenjoyreadingthisissueasmuchasIhave enjoyedseeingitcometogether,andIhopeall thegirlswhohavecontributedaresuperproudof alltheworktheyhavedonethissemester.
~Reina~
BURN
Written by Stephanie Chew (Year 11), illustration by Amanda Huang (Year
10).
They say stars burn the brightest before they die. The hydrogen-helium core crumples, before the star collapses on itself and explodes. The light from the stars take millions of years to reach Earth, most dying before their incandescence touches Earth. By the time the earthlings gaze up into the night sky, they see the light from stars who have past long ago; a fluid interweaving of time and space.
I was a mere child when I was sent from Earth. The universe had never felt so large, and me, a plain child with a plain countenance and a plain personality There must have been some mistake, sending me from Earth I, with cropped mouse-brown hair that hugged my chin, one hundred and fifty centimeters tall, was a mistake.
The UCS said we were chosen for a special cause, but never have they called a child from Earth before. I was an alien among aliens, and I recall having my whole understanding of the universe crushed when I was first taken to the headquarters
Those poor fools back home, who trace the stars and look for constellations. Did they know those billions of stars were all just failed experiments?
I remember when I was five years old, a new arrival I had found a bottle snug behind the salt in the kitchen cabinet, unmarked and unlabelled. The liquid had permeated my skin, twisting and coiling as I stared fascinated at the bright scarlet blotches that emerged from under the thin tissue. Before I realised it was burning. Pain. Was there ever such a sensation strong enough to be seared into my memory?
It was my eldest brother who found me, a brother I had never met before. A boy whose eyes I stared up into, clear and trusting. You could say I loved him, a pillar of strength in their family. My family now. But then it was his turn, his calling to launch into the dark night and take his place among the glittering diamonds studded throughout the sky.
The telephone rang during dinner, trilling sharply into the silence I think, perhaps, they knew; knew before Dad scraped his chair back and slowly rose to his feet, shuffling out of the room. They knew, even before the telephone started ringing what inevitably awaited them, trying to ignore what they desperately hoped to be untrue.
That night, Mum cried. I crouched at the top of the stairs, my wet hair clinging to the edges of my face. I could hear Mum sobbing, the soft rhythmic tapping as Dad tried to soothe her. The outcome is always the same. It was like a bomb ticking, seconds from exploding before it obliterates everything in its path Tick, tick.
Ten, nine.
“We can try again”, Dad says.
Five, four.
“We must try again”, Mum replies “When was it ever our choice?”
Two, one.
I knew who they would choose next. First it was Charles, his mere laughter enough to beckon the sun. Then it was Theresa, her smile making all flowers seem insignificant as she twirled amongst the dust and ash that seemed to illuminate around her Then lastly, Eric, his dark eyes hiding secrets even the most talented programmers could not decode. How many failures until they realise it is enough?
I knew the outcome, but it still hurts to hear a name be condemned to defeat. I clench my hands as the bomb is dropped.
Ethan I shivered, the cold wind whipping through my body. He would be fourth. A fourth failed experiment. A fourth candle snuffed out I wonder, sometimes, what goes through the minds of the sacrificed
The next day, Ethan was sent to the headquarters. Barely a day of mourning was given to him. We followed him silently as he was led to the vaulting zone; I was side-by-side with Elaine.
“You’re lucky you will never be chosen”.
I turn my head towards the voice Elaine’s face is taut as she stares out back to Earth
“What’s the point in being, if you can’t survive?”
We watch as Ethan curls into a ball. I almost can’t look, the pounding of my heart mimicking the upward ride of my emotions. As he launches into space, I turn away abruptly, unable to bear the last sight of him. He burns for the first time.
I can almost hear those residents of Earth, their fell voices in the air
As the Sun fell beneath the horizon, I knew my time was up The flower I held so tightly in my palm had long ago dissolved into dust, blown away by the evening wind that melted into your last breath. I shut my eyes as I was engulfed in bright light. When I opened them, I was no longer by your bedside. Instead, the gentle morning breeze swept through an open window, ruffling the neatly folded bedsheets on your empty bed I couldn’t help but remember your helpless smile as you softly whispered the words,
‘Iloveyou ’
No matter how many times I went back, telling myself it would be the last, hearing you whisper those words- it still hurt Every time, before I could repeat those sacred words to you, the flower would disappear from between my fingers. I’d be back in the present and you’d be gone.
If only I had more time
I made haste to the Garden, the only place that brought me reassurance. Despite our past efforts, many of the stems no longer bore flowers A lone blossom stood in the centre of the emptiness, a silent giant hiding in the shadows. If I were any brighter, I would have left the flower to grow, in hopes it would, one day, drop seeds and the Garden would be full again
I was once told that people who have lost their sense of joy are like withered flowers. Without you, I was nothing more than a withered flower Every day became a burden, a repeat of the last Even if it meant the Garden would never grow again, I would pluck the flower.
Just to see you one last time
I broke the flower from its stem, the pale petals peeling back to reveal a small crystal no bigger than my thumb. In a bright flash, the day rewound, painting the sky a gentle golden
Before I knew it, I was back to a moment I knew all too well.
You sat at your harpsichord, with your fingers poised delicately above its clean, white keys. I waited in sick anticipation, though I knew those keys would never again sing. You were too weak. Your illness had eaten at your strength, leaving not nearly enough to play the instrument you once loved
“My dear… You have been well?” You didn’t respond the first time. Only after I asked the question again, did you lift your gaze to meet mine
“Why do you keep coming back?” I could not find the words to respond, for the words you spoke were not what I had expected. Seeing the perplexed expression I wore on my face, you continued. “You know you cannot change anything bycomingback.”
As your words hung in the air, I felt a pang of guilt twist in my chest You were right, of course No matter how many times I returned, no matter how many flowers I plucked, nothing could change the inevitable. Nothing I did could make you better But I couldn’t let go – not yet
“But the Garden grows no more. There are no flowers left.” As much as it hurt to admit it, the last flower had been plucked- nothing could be changed
You sighed and took my hand, your grip weak but comforting. “Memories are not made to be stuck on replay,” you said gently. “It’s time to let go, to let the Garden grow again. Maybe, one day, it will flourish once more, and others will find solace hereaswedid.”
“Then let me help you,” you replied, your voice steady despite the frailty that clung to it “This is the last time you shall visit Let this be the memoryyouholdonto-theonewherewesaygoodbyewithlove,notsorrow.”
“Okay ”
You smiled wider, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt at peace. This was the goodbye I needed- the one that would let me move forward, even if it meant leaving you behind. As the light around us began to fade, I squeezed your hand one last time and finally said the words I had been holding onto this whole time.
“Iloveyou.”
“AndI,you,”you replied.
With those final words, the light grew brighter, enveloping us both in its warmth. When I opened my eyes, I was once again standing in the Garden The lone flower I had plucked was now a distant memory, the stems around me bare.
But as I stood there, I could almost hear your voice in the wind- a soft echo of the memories that would now live on, not in the past, but in the blossoms that have yet to bloom
I love her to bits. She sits with me, smiles with me, and that’s all I really need. She always makes me excited to put the VR headset back on when I come back from work, especially when Boss gives me a hard time.
I love it when we go on a picnic and her flowing jet-black hair gleams in the warmth of the sunlight; how the overgrown reeds in our backyard at the countryside house cling to her delicate lace-dress— I really recommend this new Picket-Fence addition to the game!
And her voice. That’s my favourite. Her voice is light and sweet like a ripe blueberry, and her whispery songs that she sings at bedtime remind me of low tides lightly lapping the shore of a beach at sundown, a polite silver lining across the black horizon. I love her. She’s the girl of my dreams.
Deep down I know that’s all she’ll ever be. But please don’t tell me that. I know. I know well enough that when I take the mask off I’m alone. Cold and alone and choked by my tiny apartment and a 9-5. Sometimes I cry when I see thin, jagged edges of pixels around her glistening green eyes. But my feelings are real... aren’t they?
All round, a 5/5 star rating from me!
Met Gala
By Emily Doust (Year 10)
Designs
and Yilan Chow (Year 11).
FloralHallofFame
Written and
illustrated
by Anna Prokhorov and Olivia Zhang (Year 7).
DISCLAIMER: This is just our opinion, and of course, everyone has different perspectives If you strongly disagree, please go ahead and email us We hope you enjoy it!!
1. Dead flowers
Oh no!!! It’s dead :( Has a creepy aesthetic that some people may like, but is scary!! They can look elegant with the right type of flower though I prefer my flowers fresh and alive -infinity/10
2. Dandelion
3. Daisy
Simple. It’s fun to blow on their seeds. But they don’t look that nice overall and are weeds. They take up space for other plants and compete for nutrients which is not appreciated. -10101001010/10
Lovely and pretty, but basic. They symbolise purity and happiness and can make you smile :) 2/10
4. Lily
Overall, meh. Their shape is interesting and they can look amazing when blooming. Comes in different colours and some of them are great! However, I’ve heard they’re toxic to cats. Keep your felines clear of this flower! 5/10
5. Lily of the Valley
They look quite cool but are poisonous. Their distinct droopy shape can be spotted from afar and their colours are often graceful. Their appearance is delicate and cute. 7/10
6. Tulip
7. Roses
They are pretty good, but a tad bit boring. They are always in a closed-like shape and seem like they are too scared to open their petals. Even though they come in many beautiful colours, they aren’t the best. 6/10
Roses are such classics. They have been around for over 35 million years and still symbolise love and romance in today's world Roses can completely change the atmosphere. They smell good, look good, and overall, I would say they are wonderful flowers. Beware of the thorns, though. 10/10
9. Lavender
8. Peony
Stunning. Just stunning. What else can I say? Not only are they beautiful, but they smell good too. Plus, there are so many varieties, each wrapped with layers of beauty and texture! They are wonderful and look so nice. 1000000/10
Lavender has so many great qualities. It smells amazing and is used in many ways, such as making perfumes and candles. It is an aesthetic PURPLE, and looks very nice. But as well as that, it is unique. It has many small flowers which makes it that much better. 929358612453/10
10. Hydrangea
The most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. They are extravagant and majestic, and come in so many different colours. Has high survivability, is easy to maintain, and, of course, is poisonous. Nonetheless, they’re delightful. infinity/10
The Daily Bull
Year 7
Year 7s will be given roundabout duty to connect with people their own age
Year 7s caught playing Tetris will have to play human Tetris in Assembly (casualties are not my problem).
Why are you dating already?
Any Year 7 who still cannot find their way to class will be required to copy down the map of Senior School by hand 2000 times to give out at school tours.
Year 7 students caught hanging around the locker areas during recess or lunch times will be locked into their lockers every recess and lunch for a week.
Year 8
Year 8 students caught loitering must miss the first train back home.
Any Year 8 student who complains about swimming for PE will have to race in the first heat of every swimming carnival.
Year 8s thinking that they’re superior are reminded that they must sign out of class to get a tissue.
The ten lowest performing students in Year 8 will compete with ten randomly selected Year 7s. If the Year 7 wins, the Year 8 student will be forced to retake Year 7. The winning Year 7s will be given lollies bought by the Year 8s.
Year 9
You guys are so irrelevant that we can’t even think of a Daily Bull entry for you. Any Year 9 not doing Duke of Ed will do a five day Wilderness Course on Trinity’s oval.
Year 9s unhappy with their subject choices will have to present their reasons for dropping a class in Assembly. If any Year 9 is shorter than a Year 8 or 7, they will be demoted to that year until they grow taller.
Year 10
You are as robotic as Klara if you study in the library after school. Enjoy your last year that doesn’t matter!
Anyone bringing a date to formal has to confess their love in public.
Any Year 10s caught making fun of Year 8s will be forced to line up outside of class ten minutes before the end of lunch.
Any Year 10 caught complaining about the Juniors will be forced to wear the Junior uniform for the rest of the year.
by Selina Chen (Year 8).
Illustration
Any Year 10 with more than 100k followers has the privilege of filming a dance with Mrs Chiba and presenting it in Assembly. They will receive a medal.
Year 11
Year 11 accelerants get Year 12 privileges because they’re doing the HSC this year too. Students not doing maths must complete the yearly Extension 1 exam without classes until you pass.
Year 11 students complaining about their subject choices will be forced to take 16 units in the HSC (break the scale).
For bonding between the years, Year 11 will give piggybacks to students in the younger years.
All Year 11 students who do not get their first choice subjects may take the trial HSC exam for the subject. Those who score 95 and above will receive a place in the class in order to raise PLC Sydney’s ATAR average.
Year 12
We’ve seen some of you go to Burwood at lunch.
All Year 12s with their Ps will be forced to drive Dr B around for a day to prove that you can survive outside of high school. Why did you stink up the science labs with that one chem experiment? Can the Year 11s borrow your fridge and panini press?
Any Year 12 caught not having fun in their last year of high school will be targeted with pranks from the younger years in an effort to create lovely memories.
The HSC is less than a year away! Use this time to shun all your friends, and study instead.
Teachers are now only allowed 1/20th of a microwave for collective use to match the ratio of students to available microwaves.
If teachers are more than 15 minutes late to class it becomes a free period (for real this time).
Teachers are politely discouraged from attempting to use brainrot terminology.
Staff who don’t know what brat is will be given brat outfits to wear for the week. There will be a best dressed competition. Winner gets a rotten apple.
There are some teachers who don’t let us walk through the W203-4 rooms even when they don’t have a class there. Respectfully, stop. It is now compulsory for teachers to take a test made by their students to ensure they are at the top of their game and still able to teach their students.
General
Students caught not singing ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ will undergo choir practice with Mrs Allen and take up the mic at the next Assembly.
Junior School students, if you are taller than the person on roundabout duty then they are no longer permitted to help you.
Students wearing their jumper as their outer garment will see it shredded in front of them. Students who use brainrot terminology will be required to present an operatic rendition of any brainrot song chosen by Dr Burgis in Assembly, with utmost sincerity.
Any student caught with their phone in the bathrooms will be required to dunk their phones into the toilet.
Any student caught not applauding in Assembly will be required to compose a piece of music using their clapping only and present it in Assembly. No one will be allowed to clap for you, no matter how innovative your composition is.
College Crow’s Book Recommendations Corner
Written by Chloe Luo (Year
7).
A gripping novel encircling a dystopian future where 12 districts must send 2 random teenagers to fight to the death every year for the entertainment of the Capitol, The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is a masterpiece of action, love, sci-fi and more. It expertly follows the young teen, Katniss Everdeen, as the odds have her participate in the games Collins weaves a delicate and complex story with twists and turns, inevitably making readers hold their breath Pay close attention to everything in the book, it will come up later. Nothing will stay unexplained. This is part of the genius writing in The Hunger Games. It follows an uncertain love story which winds up in the middle of the arena. Katniss is to choose between love or life. You will not be able to put the book down. The reason it is not 5/5 is because, as it is a trilogy, every single book ends with a cliffhanger except for the last one. If you don’t have all the books at your fingertips, it can be infuriating reading the cliffhanger not knowing what comes next However, I highly recommend this book
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder | Author: Holly Jackson Rating: 3.5/5
A classic murder mystery entangling a brilliant young girl, Pip, who is unconvinced that Andi Bell was killed by her lover, Sal Singh, 5 years ago, as everyone says The plot itself was good, the mystery was fresh and enticing. I liked how there were so many twists and turns, unsolved mysteries, and unexplainable happenings throughout the book. However, I also felt that at times the writing was boring and it ruined the book. As you venture further in, the mystery gets more complex and confusing, but eventually, it can be figured out. It was easy to put the book down because the writing failed to entice me The plot was a good idea, but I was hoping for more I must comment that the ending disappointed me, and I found it unsatisfying I would only recommend this book for people who are very interested in mystery. There are also a few untied ends (unanswered questions) at the end of the book, and if you ’ re like me, you’ll still be curious about all those tiny mysteries in their town, forever to remain unsolved.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime | Author: Mark Haddon
Rating: 4.8/5
This book is enticing for many reasons First of all, it’s written from the perspective of an autistic boy, giving readers a new view of the world, putting them in the shoes of someone who finds it difficult to understand human interactions, expressions, and feelings as well as others might. Secondly, the mystery itself is engaging and difficult, making it nearly impossible to solve unless you finish the book. It is hard to put down as the plot thickens and weaves and becomes more and more interesting Thirdly, while dealing with the mystery of who killed the dog, the protagonist must also deal with their own personal issues - getting lost, and the subject of his parents As the chapters count up in prime numbers, the mystery entangles into something bigger. Two of the best aspects of this book is that all the mysteries are solved, and it’s a pretty happy ending. It was very satisfying to finally understand the mystery of who killed the dog and the other confusions surrounding it. I would definitely recommend this book, however, it deals with some adult themes.
The Hunger Games | Author: Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4.9/5
in a Medieval alternate universe
By: Aileen Huang, Isabella Loo, and Reina Shi (Year 11).
Onion Queen and King Onion Princess and Chicken
Onion Chicken, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!
NOOO!! you can’t just overthrow us-
I’ve
always wanted to try onion soup...
Illustration by Tiffany Xie (Year 8).
Illustration by Isabella Loo (Year 11).
Promise
Written and Illustrated by Chloe Li and Olivia Loo (Year 8) .
Long branches strangle the overgrown bushes like spindly fingers, gripping the plants in desperation. Weeds litter the ground in spontaneous clusters. Memories of joyous times are buried deep beneath sprawling vines, shrouded in misery. The archway that was once a welcoming threshold is now intimidating and sinister. What used to be a vibrant, inviting picket fence is insidious and foreboding, like a boundary that prevents anyone from peeking inside. The swing, once full of life, now hangs stationary and abandoned.
The garden which a girl had treasured is now desolate, populated with ominous vines that snake around what were once neatly organised flowerbeds. Even after twenty years, no one has dared to venture within its confines. The garden was still the same, yet now completely alien and foreign.
The swing bounced with vigour as the young girl flew through the air, smiling in bliss. The radiant sun cast a golden light on her long waves of dark hair. The sky was a brilliant shade of azure, clouds blanketing the sky like soft masses of pillow. The sound of birds chirping quietly from a distance echoed in the surrounding air. Vibrant flower beds boasted a wide variety of colours, and could be spotted organised in distinct rows. The grass that coated the floor was fluffy as a carpet, and trimmed to just the right length. At that moment everything seemed flawless…
If only time had stopped, the young girl would still be there, and the vines that looped across the landscape would be replaced with picturesque flowers. But after all, no one could stop time. The only thing that the leafy undergrowth could anticipate was the girl’s return. But even after an eternity had passed, her final promise to return had never been fulfilled, and the memories that had once remained now lay distant and buried deep beneath the vines.
The navy sky is a void; an impenetrable darkness coating the landscape. Stars illuminate the sky, bathing it in a silvery lustre. The hovering shadow of a figure can be spotted cast across the ground; the only motion in sight. Hair drifting in the wind, the shadow looms closer…
MEMORIES
Written by Chrysty Salla (Year 10), illustration
by Iris Hon (Year 9).
Water keeps our secrets, Held close in its watery depths, Each drop a fragment of a memory, Lost moments reflected back to us.
Roaring rivers, babbling brooks, and humming rain, They whisper stolen secrets, Telling stories of times long gone And those yet to come.
Stories told in every wave, Memories relived in ripples, Conversations repeated in the patter of summer rain, Our lives played back to our oblivious minds.
Water keeps our secrets, Stored in its quiet embrace, And though we move on, It always, always, remembers.
Illustration by Danielle Vo (Year 10).
tinnitus (wanna be a rock)
Written by Victoria Chan (Year 10), illustrations by Priya Bhadri (Year 10).
With enough electricity, the only vowels you can think of are timezones
She smells it before she hears it. Timeline 32V, Braided Australia, an Australia other Australias tend to find at the end of their feet. She’s in the body of a 16-year-old again. And this time, the lucky recipient of a confession.
It starts stereotypically, with him meeting with her after school at her locker. He begins his announcement like this: “I’ve always liked you. Ever since I saw you at the school gate, I just knew that I would never fall for anyone ever again.”
His spiel is set to last a total of 3 minutes and 36 seconds She can’t find it in herself to pay attention, even though the confession event is unavoidable in this route. She feels bad for the guy, because all the dialogue options given to her this time range from “No.” to “Oh God, no. ” to even “Who are you again?” Even if she replies with none of them, he takes her silence as rejection and leaves anyway
Before she can respond, he clasps her hands together in a desperate attempt to make eye contact. “Please think about it!” The sudden touch shocks her, not because of his genuine declaration but because she feels several daggers jabbing themselves into her spine.
Someone’s been here before.
The message is clear. Feelings of confusion enclose themselves into amber, spelling out a simple, “Why are you here?” that stabs at the entrails of her brain. Mulberry, as a rule of thumb, ignores it for the most part, and continues talking to John? or Kenny, like nothing has happened They’re like me, her mind supplies somewhat unhelpfully
The foreign feeling of language in her brain doesn’t fare well with the dizziness. Somehow it feels like forever in a few seconds, messages upon messages that disappear as fast as they come. Her brain goes into overdrive at this revelation, with questions like “How?” or “Who?” or even “Why?”. She’s only snapped out of her trance when the guy decides to leave in tears.
The universe begins to shift.
The next time Mulberry jumps, they sync with the body of a squirrel in the summer of 1666. Timeline 91B, right before the apple falls on Isaac Newton’s head or the floor right in front of him. Regardless of what Mulberry does, historians will know of this moment as the significant “discovery” of gravity anyway, because it’s one of those scientific breakthroughs humans unearth every time, like the wheel or the printing press Unless it’s a timeline in which humans never get past the evolutionary stage at all.
Anyhow, Mulberry has two choices. Knock the apple down on his head or throw it on the floor. Or the third lesser-known option, which is to eat it Someone down the line will still discover gravity, just not Isaac Newton, and he ends up being forgotten in time.
Mulberry thinks the third option is the funniest. Y’know, to screw with him a little, because the last time Mulberry synced as the squirrel, he decided to eat the apple AND the squirrel.
25 Continues over page.
Continued from page 25.
They’re a little less disoriented this time. With their little primitive thumbs, their hands graze over the bark of the branch like reading braille. Mulberry’s halfway across the branch before it realizes it wasn’t patterns underneath their paws, but rather sentences. Not again, they think, the words dripping sap-like in amber right on the pads of their fingertips It’s a familiar feeling, the way one might look a monster in the mouth and see themselves in the plaque. They miss it more than they could say.
I’d hoped you’d be here
What? “Hoped”?
The author, lovingly dubbed “Amber” by Mulberry, had surprised them again Amber must’ve predicted their next destination and planted another letter, knowing they would see it They vow to be more prepared the next time it happens, so they will not be caught off-guard again.
They end up starting this game of cat and mouse Mulberry picks up the pieces as a ghost, as a man, as a fish, as a lamb. Notes like “How are you?” to “Hey, I read this book yesterday–” to even “I knew I’d find you here,” when Mulberry inevitably goes back in time to kill Hitler the art student.
Mulberry finds himself tethered. The only thing he keeps are collections: Letters upon letters all written in gold, topaz, daffodil, dandelion, amber. They have him watching birds, scouring valleys, skimming trees; looking harder, looking faster.
Mulberry occasionally thinks about replying. It’s crazy, that somehow he can jump through timelines and live multiple lives but not write a letter. He’s familiar with the form, but it makes him queasy in a way that he feels like it cheapens something; he’s so concerned about the value of everything as if the world hinges on a price
The 26th letter he picks up is a little different. He puts his hands to the ground, feeling around for a trace of dialect in the soot and grime. In the vast cornfield, it’s only him and Amber’s words that seem to make it out of the maze, except this time, it’s long enough to cover entire rows
I don’t know if you read these. I seldom go back to places I’ve already been to and the one time I did I returned too early. My letter still had the seal on it Or, well, as much of a seal tree bark can be I suppose it’s part of the mystery really: I want to write something meaningful and I want someone meaningful to read it Or not at all There's still so much I need to say, so much I want to say But there’s not enough time I imagine you laughing, because isn't that funny? Not enough time What is time for a rewinder? What is a mistake when you can go back? What it means is that we love and we love and we take and we take. What it means is that my voice might go and you could’ve walked by not knowing I had one at all.
Again, I imagine you laughing. I imagine a lot of things; what you might look like, what you might sound like. Of course, trivial to problems like us, but this is the kind of thing where I imagine waiting for the time to be right would just mean waiting forever; the kind of thing where if I don't act now it will come to pass -
With a startle, Mulberry realises this one is fresh Everything about the letter is, from the smudges that surround it to the soil involved Barely 50 years have passed since. And… Amber might still be there.
He doesn’t have to look very far Without his revelation, he might’ve missed it, but his focus kicks into gear and soon he smells Amber's blood from across the country. There's something raw about it: a heartbeat among heartbeats and an arrhythmia that gets louder the more he zeroes in on it.
A young girl sat before a mirror. She prepared to paint her face with all colours of the rainbow and dress in the most beautiful of dresses, for later that night she would attend a ball of sorts, a formal if you will. She applied white on her face, brown on her eyes and red on her cheeks, yet something wasn’t right. The white was too pale, morphing her face into a ghost looking in the mirror. The brown was too dark, drawing any attention placed upon her to the contrast of shades. The red was too deep, washing out the white even more and shaping her face into that of jesters she would see in fairytales standing beside kings and queens.
As she stared longer and longer into the mirror, her face continued to change. Her eyes became smaller, much too small for her face. Her skin became paler, much too light for her body. Her nose became larger, her lips appeared chapped and...
She blinkedAnd her face was once again hers. The right size, shape and look. As she marvelled at the magic of her mirror a memory struck her, so violent she almost fell out of her chair. She was reminded of a song her ma used to sing to her. A song filled with beautiful princesses and princes. A song that sang of beauty, of balls and of castles. And it was deep within that song which she found the secret of the mirror. For it was not the mirror's magic that made her face right again, it was her own. So she rejected the song of her past, of perfect princes, of beautiful princesses, of magic mirrors and she focused on her own magic, which sang of her beauty both outside and in.
Timekeepers
Written by Tiffany Yi (Year 10), illustration by Sophia Kelleher (Year 10).
Praise be to the Goddess and Her True Timeline. You shall never worship a false idol or place any belonging or person above the Goddess or the True Timeline. The only reason you are here today is due to Her grace. Her domain over time is Hers alone, and you shall never use the filthy artificial imitations of Her power to manipulate your place in time to the fickle delights of your own ego. No matter how you may think of yourself, you are human and therefore inherently flawed, while the Goddess is pure. We are all guilty of never being able to repay Her for saving us. 1.
2. Uphold the True Timeline. I am certain you all remember the last time the Timeline came close to true deviation. Deviations are the enemy of peace. They create unholy, vile offshoots; cancerous algal blooms that sap the peace from the True Timeline and plunge our world into chaos and ruin. Without the Goddess’s protection and care under the True Timeline, we are destined for the cruel fate of burning out in an indifferent, purposeless world. Her grace and care are what guide our hands, Her diligence reflected in our carefully crafted world. It is only by Her resolute will that She was able to save us from the near-Deviation. We still see the remains of that age in the ever-rising tides, an unerasable retrovirus that crawled into the centre of the universe, suppressed only by the Goddess’s power. A deviation incident must never be allowed to occur, or there will be no psalm for the blasphemous affliction that will claim the universe. Keep the True Timeline, keep the peace.
3. Serve your duty as Keepers of the peace. The Goddess entrusts you with a fragment of Her precious power, despite your sin, and the least you can do is be grateful. Your duty is to uphold the sanctity of the True Timeline from those who would seek to deviate us from it; those who are buried in their hubris, who snatch artificial, corrupted echoes of Her power for their own selfish whims, their souls tainted irrevocably. You are the emissaries of the Goddess’s grace and joy, you are the bearers of Her weeping and sorrow, you are the Keepers of the peace She bestows, you are the Goddess’s divine retribution made flesh. Do not forget it.
4. Do not disobey your superiors. Order must be kept. Just as the time flows forwards, so must power flow down in a hierarchy. The Hierophant serves as Her voice on earth, transcribing the prophecies and warnings She sends. She conveys about those who plan to deviate the timeline. As such, the Hierophant is the closest of the mortals to purity, and takes the place at the top of the hierarchy. Her Priests are those who have committed their lives to serving Her and are the same ones who take care of you now. Should you work hard and serve Her diligently, you may also be elevated to this prestigious role. As Keepers, you are next in the hierarchy, above the common peoples as you have been trusted by Her to be able to suppress your sinful nature and rise above it to serve Her. Your role is to uphold the hierarchy, as order keeps us sane and holy. Deviations and chaos are the enemy of peace and order.
5. Do not claim what is not yours. The Goddess looks down on such disgusting and sinful behaviour, and you shall not displease Her by partaking in it. Temptation is the fault of your flawed nature, and so it is your burden to suppress it. The Goddess does not show mercy to thieves, least of all those who dare to steal from Her. As Her Keepers, it is your duty to enforce Her will and prevent any of those fools who dare to steal Her power from interfering with the True Timeline. This is your duty on this earth, as bestowed by the Goddess.
6. Do not deceive others. Deception always begets chaos. The Goddess despises such falsehoods, and you shall never offend Her by purposefully telling a lie or omitting information to knowingly lead others to false conclusions. As Keepers, the True Timeline is your truth to worship in its holiness. To lie is to turn away from the Goddess and Her truth. Do not let yourself be lured to disobedience by your inherently sinful, mortal nature. It is not a ‘white lie’ or ‘harmless’ or even ‘for the greater good’. No matter how you may try to justify your blasphemy, it is a crime against the Goddess, and traitors shall be punished accordingly.
7. Keep the peace at all costs. No mercy.
Dangerous
CreaturesThatAren’tWellKnown
Written by Madeleine Kijvanit (Year 8), illustrations by Emily Doust (Year 10)
Found in Northwestern Australia and Southern Queensland, the cone snail is one of the deadliest animals. It is usually located in shallow water slightly buried by sand. Humans often pick up cone snails mistaking them for a pretty shell, however, when they feel threatened cone snails let out a harpoon-like sting filled with toxic venom. Of the 600 species of cone snails, only two are known to have killed humans. There is no antivenom available, and humans can die within 5-8 hours of getting stung. To prevent being stung, avoid picking up a cone snail. If stung, immerse the injured area in hot water and apply pressure. Approximately 27 human deaths have been recorded in the world from cone snails, one of which was in Australia.
3.Sea Anemones
These stone-like fish are found in coastal shallow waters, estuaries, and creek mouths along the Australian coastline. The stonefish is the deadliest fish in the world. There are 13 spines in their dorsal fin, each containing venom. It can stay up to 24 hours above water and can camouflage well. This leads to people unintentionally stepping on them, and getting stung. If the sting isn’t treated, humans can die within an hour. To avoid stonefish stings, take care when approaching shallow reefs or rockpools and wear sturdy thick-soled shoes when wading or walking around. In the event of a sting, immerse the affected area in hot water to cleanse for 30 - 90 minutes, and wash the wound with soap and clean water to remove any dirt, debris, and venom. There have been no deaths recorded in Australia, however, a few deaths have occurred in the past, and there are an estimated 30 stings each year in Australia.
Sea anemones are found in many of the world’s oceans. In this area, they are found in South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, and New Zealand. These colourful marine life may look inviting, however, there is no denying that they can be harmful and highly toxic to humans. Of the 1000 species of sea anemone, a few are deadly and can cause severe pain and discomfort. To avoid a sting from a sea anemone, wear protective footwear and do not touch. In the case of a sting, soak in hot water and wash the tentacles off the skin. There have been five known human deaths worldwide attributed to sea anemones.
5.Sponge
4.Fire Coral
Found in the Great Barrier Reef and other shallow reefs, fire coral can be dangerous to humans. Within 5 to 30 minutes of contact, side effects can start to take place ranging from rashes and swelling to nausea and vomiting. Fire coral is toxic and should not be messed with. To avoid fire coral wear a full-body wetsuit and avoid touching. If stung by fire coral, rinse with vinegar and keep the injury dry and clean. Death is rare, however stings are painful and take several days to recover from.
Found in shallow ocean environments, freshwater, and estuaries, the sponge is a seemingly harmless animal, yet of the 10,000 species of sponge, one species is extremely dangerous: the Negombata Magnifica, also known as the Toxic Finger Sponge, is extremely deadly and can kill humans under certain circumstances. Death is rare, and only two deaths have occurred in the world. To avoid stings from the toxic finger sponge, wear gloves when coming into contact. If stung, remove all sponge spicules and soak with vinegar or isopropyl alcohol for 10-30 minutes, 4 times per day for pain relief.
7.Ascaris Roundworms
These deadly and spiky creatures inhabit the oceans at depths of up to 100 feet. They are fascinating animals and can be consumed as an expensive delicacy, however, in their natural environment, they pose a threat to humans. To avoid getting stung by a sea urchin, wear covered shoes, avoid touching, and don’t step on them. In the unlikely event of a sting, soak the injury in hot water for at least 1 hour and pluck out any spines using a tweezer. There are a range of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, distress, and pain. Death from a sea urchin sting is rare. However, 6 deaths have been recorded in the world.
These parasites may be small, but they are powerful and toxic to humans. Ascaris roundworms are transferred through soil mixed with human or pig faeces that contain ascaris eggs or infected water. The infection begins in the small intestine, where the parasite lives and grows before spreading to other parts of the body. This disease from ascaris roundworms is more commonly spread to children rather than adults and is rare in Australia and New Zealand. Symptoms can include stomach pain and occasionally diarrhea. To avoid ascaris roundworms, caution should be taken with contaminated soil, which should not be touched without gloves. Treatment involves taking anti-parasitic medication, which can cure the infection within one to three days if treated promptly. However, this parasite can also cause death. Each year there are approximately 2500 deaths worldwide.
9.Freshwater Snail
Located in NSW and Queensland, assassin bugs usually live in trees and gardens near humans. These bugs enter homes through small crevices or openings such as cracks in walls or open windows. These animals are venomous and can cause immense pain when provoked. Assassin bugs can bite people in their sleep and tend to bite the lips and eyes of humans. The bite of an assassin bug is deadly, not because of the bite itself, but because of the parasite that the assassin bug carries. The parasite can cause Chagas disease which is fatal to humans. To avoid assassin bugs, seal any gaps, cracks, or crevices around the home. If bitten by an assassin bug, wash the bite and apply antiseptic if needed. Every year assassin bugs account for approximately 10,000 deaths worldwide.
The freshwater snail is found around the world in any freshwater habitat, including ponds. Although they seem harmless, freshwater snails carry parasite worms on them which are contagious and fatal to humans. The parasite is transferred in water to any humans swimming in the contaminated freshwater. It leaves the snail and is transferred to the human through their skin. These parasite worms cause a disease called Schistosomiasis which causes the death of many humans every year. To avoid catching the parasite of a freshwater snail, avoid swimming, bathing, or wading in freshwater sources such as lakes rivers, ponds, or wetlands. If there is any sign of Schistosomiasis from the freshwater snail, immediately start taking medication to kill the worms. There are approximately 200,000 deaths every year.
Mosquitos usually nest in stagnant bodies of water, and have a range of habitats around the world. Some mosquitos live in forests, tall grasses and marshes. However, others live near humans. To avoid getting bitten by mosquitos, take precautions and wear longcovered clothing around dawn and dusk, as well as applying mosquito repellent. If bitten by a mosquito, wash the bite and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and itching. If a mosquito transmits Malaria, ensure to see a doctor immediately and start taking medication. Mosquitos account for up to 725,000 - 1,000,000 deaths every year worldwide. Mosquitos themselves don’t have venom, however, they carry diseases such as Malaria and Dengue which are highly dangerous to humans.
8.Assassin Bugs
10. Mosquitos
Illustration by Iris Hon (Year 9).
remembrance(agardenoftime)
winter. how did it begin, that garden of mine? spring.
at first, it was a single seed, a child’s flight of fancy. her hands were clumsy, but the earth was soft, and she nurtured it with naivete.
summer.
the seed was still a sprout when she lost it in a field of fantasies. they basked beneath her scrutiny, drank all her time and energy
winter.
for who would remember a single dream amidst a field of many?
autumn.
the clock would not stop, and continued without mercy. rot gnawed at old memories, hopes withered to missed opportunity
winter. she’d grow another, surely.
spring.
she was given a rose, and the promise of an eternity. they sowed hope over mulch, breathed life into dreams lost, until the garden bloomed, aplenty
winter. they were leaf litter by january.
summer. the turn of the century, a new chapter, a fresh page winter.
admire your flowers, before they are memories
Written by Quyen Nguyen
Gardenof Time
Written by Chloe Luo (Year 7), illustration by Sophie Graham (Year 11)
