SPRING 2014

CARROT WAY

Stories and Poems by the Children of Telling it

Avalon Housing has been a Telling It partner since 2010. They believe investing in the children who live in their communities is one of the most important things that they can do to end the cycle of homelessness. Working together, Telling It supports the healthy social, academic, and emotional development of the children from Carrot Way.

Telling It is an exemplary community-based program that employs innovative approaches to boost scholastic confidence by using the healing aspects of the arts in concert with evidenced-based educational and social work practices. Telling It has demonstrated success in establishing safe and creative environments for our children to participate, stimulating their creative writing and literacy skills, and with the help of the Telling It team identifying and addressing the road blocks for personal and academic success.

I hope that you enjoy this anthology. Each page is dedicated to the creative writing and artwork of each of the children of Telling It and includes photos of when a University of Michigan fraternity visited us and of our memorable participation in the Festifools parade. Today is an important self-confidence building activity for the children and we are so happy that you came to hear them share their stories and poems.

Thank you for supporting our children and sharing in our Telling It celebration!

With best wishes,

Deb Gordon-GurfinkelTelling It Founder and Director

WELCOME TO THE SPRING TELLING IT CELEBRATION AT AVALON HOUSING’S CARROT WAY COMMUNITY! THE CHILDREN OF CARROT WAY THAT ARE IN GRADES 1-3 HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN A WEEKLY AFTER SCHOOL SESSION WHERE THEY CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THE VISUAL ARTS, IMAGINATIVE PLAY AND CREATIVE WRITING. TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS SEMESTER AS THE CHILDREN SHARE THEIR STORIES, POEMS, AND ARTWORK THAT THEY HAVE CREATED.

GETTING MY FRIENDGreta went to the Ice Queen and stopped her. Greta got a special necklace and the necklace could freeze the Ice Queen. She got her friend back. Happily ever after.

SENSES POEMI see watermelon.I touch watermelon.I smell cotton candy.I feel happy.

MY MONSTERMy monster is a girl.My monster looks like a leopard.My monster sounds silent.My monster smells like watermelon.My monster lives in my house.At night my monster sleeps.I cannot hear my monster.My monster never scares me.My monster’s name is Sixela.

ERASEI wouldn’t change anything.

ALEXISAlexis is crazy.Alexis is an owl.Alexis is a bird.Alexis like to fly.Alexis has 5 dogs.

ALEXIS

ALIVIAMY DOORBehind my door is New York City and on the Door it says Norman Reedus is there and he lives there. You can shop there I’m going to New York for my B-day. My B-day is in June 19 2003 and it is pritty.

DEERSDeers are coolDeers are sweetDeers never can get beat

CAMERONTHE STORYKai got hit with a piece of ice in his eye and Gerda went and listened to the librarian. Then she went to Kai’s parents and told them what exactly happened. Then she went looking for Kai in the woods. And she saw fire in the woods and thought Kai started the fire. Then she called the ambulance people and they came down in the woods and a person shot her with a tranquilizer dart. Gerda and the ambulance people took Kai to the emergency room and Kai had to get surgery. They had to open his body near the heart and found the piece of ice and got the piece of ice out. Suddenly, they saw Kai’s heart beating, and then Kai’s heart unfroze and he went home the next day feeling happy and saying sorry to Gerda for all the things he did. And they lived happily ever after!

WHAT’S BEHIND MY DOORWhen I open my magic door, it will be a door going to the future and the Artic and Anartica. The reason why is because I always wanted to see what I looked like in the future. The reason I chose the Artic is because I like panguins and I always wonted to see a panguin in real eye sight.And the reason why I chose Antartica is because, I really wonted to see a polar bear.

IN 10 YEARSIn 10 years, I will be 19 years old. Job: I will work at Taco Bell.Live: I will live in New York.Hobby: Playing on my Xbox360Holiday: is Christmas because you get to have good stuff and fun stuff.Life: Graduateing High school, getting my first car, living with girlfriend. Work at Taco Bell and get married.THE END.

CHANGEIf I had to change one day in my life, it would be report card day because I have some bad report cards and some good report cards. The good ones are art and music and the bad ones are homework and self- control because I get happy, but I don’t know how to settle down.

POEMHi, I am Super-Man. Super-man saves the day. Super-man is fun and nice he helps civilians get out of the crimes.

BULLYA person named Cavon (brother) is mean to me for no reason. He hits me and lays on top of me. He isn’t nice to me. Sometimes I do nothing. One time he told me to get a glass of water then I told him “no” and he got mad and he said it again and I told him “NO.” He got mad and told me that I would never leave the house and I did. He got mad again and I said “NO” and and he left me alone.

DAVELLMICHAEL JACKSONMy name is DavellAnd I like to chill billWhen I’m feelin’ low I blow upWhen I’m feelin’ good I be like “will anyone tell me how good I am?”Now my flow is done so I want to chill

WHAT HAPPENED TO KAII think that Kai got kidnapped and Garta went to save her. But Kai became a snowman. The witch turned her into a snowman. But Garta broke the spell and took her back home. She broke the spell by using the magic wand. Her mom and dad were happy and live happily ever after.

BEHIND MY DOORBehind my door is a whole bucth of pokemon. All of the pokemon. It summer in it. The sky is sunny. Cloud, water, and food such as pokemon food.

IN TEN YEARS…Who will you be friends with?In 10 year, I will be friends with new people.

Where will you be living?Like all over the world.

DAVONWhen will your favorite time of day be?I will be making video games evertime.

When will your favorite day of the year be?Everyday because I will be doing everything I like doing as a kid and drawing and making video games.

What will your place of living look like?Awesome, cool, and amazing. It will be everything. A house, apartment, mansion, and hotel. Every house even a car, skyscraper.

MY MONSTERMy monster is scary, mean, zombie, dogwolf, vampire.My monster looks like a creepy six leged 3 head furry, slimey.And sounds like and smells like “I want to eat your whole body and your insides” stink, everything that stinks, growling, snarl, stomps, drool green, slime, and ooz.My monster lives everywhere.At night my monster scare people, kill people.I can hear my monster talking and walking.My monster scares me when he in where.My monster’s name is Vampire Zombie eating dogwolf.

ERASEOne day I was going to make video games and get rich and I would try to erase what happened between me and my brother. We were fighting over a game because he doesn’t like it. My brother started the fight. When we fight, we have to stop playing video games. I wish I had all the episodes of Breadwinners. I wish we didn’t fight because we get in trouble.

POEMWe want to see thesea sitting in my seat atdawn to see the moon

BULLYOne day I saw somebody getting bullied. He was pushing and hitting somebody at the hotel. But I didn’t get his name. There was no adult there to stop him. So I had to stick up for him. I don’t like people getting bullied because they are getting hurt and I don’t like people getting bullied. I told the bully to stop and then the guy who was getting bullied said stop too with me. Then the bully ran away.

JUSTICEBEHIND MY FAIRY DOORThe door leads to Mexico because I like Mexico. In Mexico you get tacos. I like hamburgers, cheese, lettuce, taco sauce, and sour cream on my tacos. Mexico is cool! I’ve never been there but I know what it’s like there.

When I open my door…

I see tacos watermelon, blueberries, dragons, vikingsI smell more foodI touch an ant, a ball, and a scooterI feel hot

When I close the door behind me…

I leave behind tacos. The dragons return and they try and burn me and take tacos. The dragons eat the tacos and I go back.

THE DAY’S CATASTROPHEOne day one of my friends hit another friend in his head with a backpack. He blamed it on me. He told the teacher and I didn’t even do it! The teacher told me to go into the hallway and sit there. That made me feel sad.

What should have happened is that I should have said sorry because they blamed it on me and I shouldn’t have to be sorry if I didn’t do it.

KAYLNKAI IS MISSINGGerta went to find Kai. Kai’s parents are very sad. Gerta looked for Kai in the forest, at school, on the play ground and the grocery store. Gerta could still not find Kai. Kai was still lost, Gerta looked and the police looked too. Then Gerta went to look at the mall. Finally, Gerta found Kai at Meijer’s. Kai was very sad. Gerta cheered Kai up and they played.

BEHIND MY DOORBehind my door there is a monster and a lion and there was a tiger! There was a person behind my door that was trying to get away from the monster. The person was trying not to get killed. The monster grabbed him and yanked him. Then the guy got away and ran so fast that he had to take a break and the monster started running again and he almost got the guy.

MY LITTLE SISTERMy little sister has vampire teeth. She bites me every day! She also hits me. But sometimes she is really nice to me.

FUNNY STORYThis is something I don’t want to happen again. One day my mom left the Vaseline and the hair stuff on the counter. Then my little sister grabbed it and wiped it all over her face and neck. It was all over the couch. It was so hilarious. Me and Tiara were cracking up. My momma’s eyes brows were so thick because they had Vaseline over them.

POEMSMy Lion is BigMy Lion has sharp teethMy Lion is happyMy dog is crazyShe dances on her feetHer name is Butterfly

BULLYOne day I was playing with Kiya. Coookie came up and said, “you’re ugly” to Kiya. This made Kiya cry. I came and gave her a hug.

KEON

LABRON

LANYAKYI AND GERTERKyi ran away and on his way he froze 2 houses down from his family’s house. Gerter went home to find a map of the naborhood. Gerter went around knocking on doors seeing if Kyi was there. Gerter went to one of Kyi’s family member’s house and Kyi wasn’t there. She came from the left and when she was leaving and he saw Kyi 2 houses down frozen. Gerter went back to Kyi’s family members house and got a warm blanket. She went back to Kyi, wrapped him in the blanked and he unfroze.

THE LAND OF FLOWERSFairy LandHot pink rosesSmells likeBreakfastBaconI fill excited to eat baconI take a flower and see it is shiny and has sparkleNo one was there but me.

IN 10 YEARS:In 10 years I will be 19.Where will you be living? New YorkWho will be your best friend? NajehWhat will be your favorite food? Ice creamHow many shoes will you own? 8 pairsHow long will your hair be? Below my shoulders Why are you in NY? To see famous peopleWhat color will your room be? BlueWhere is your favorite place to relax? SpaWho do you live with? Some friendsWhen do you go to bed at night? 11:00 or 12:00What is your favorite thing to do? Relax How often do you call your family? 2ice a week

MY MONSTERMy monster is scary.My monster looks like: has a lot of brown hair and peach skin.My monster sounds scary and smells like rotten eggs.My monster lives under my bed.At night my monster goes out scaring people.My monster scared me when it sneaks up on meMy monster’s name is The Scareinater.

WHAT I WOULD CHANGEIf I could change one thing in my life I would change when I had to move away from Naveah. I wish I could move to a house next to Naveah.

DANCER DANCEDance to feel happyDance to feel excitedA dancer is coolA dancer can dance.

LIAMWHAT HAPPENED TO KAIKai went in the ice storm just to get something warm to drink or go get to some place warm. Several days passed. Then came a tragic moment. Kai had R.I.P.

But got covered in snow and turned into a snowman.

But it could be possible he’s still alive. But he actually turned undead... Monster Kai Eye Bopper!

WHEN I OPEN MY DOOR.. .I see my pokemon: Pikachu, Blastoise, Machop, and SylveonI smell spaghettiI fell like I want to battle. I feel good.I touch the pokeball. I see Nurse Joy. When I close the door, I leave behind a backpack. In which there are potions, pokeballs, ATM 42, ATM 25, ATM 14. It’s all black. It’s... BIG!!!

IN 10 YEARS, I WILL BE 20I will be living with Labron, Cameron, Allison, Davon, Diamord, etc.-- all my Team Magma people basically.I will have 1,000 cats living with me!Some of my cats names will be Balbasaur, Charmander, Squirtt;e, etc.-- all the Pokemon basically.

IF I WERE TO REWRITE A DAY.. .I’d rewrite: I went up to my mom and said, “Hey mom, since Tyler as a 2DS, and I have a 3DS, Tyler doesn’t need to take my 3DS.” My mom says, “Sigh. Okay fine. But don’t let anyone else take it.” “I won’t.”

MARLONSCRABBLE LETTER POEMMy brother barfs My grandma is greatA milkshake is uglyMy girlfriend has a big buttBye-bye, thank you

MY FESTIFOOLS CHARACTERMy Character is really strongHe reminds me of the HulkHe has a 8-packHe has big armsHis name is NinjaHe is made out of Legos

POSTCARD FROM THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HUMANS LANDIAGreetings from the perfect place for humans landia,You are my favorite dad ever pops.

WHAT HAPPENED TO KAI?I predict that Gerta is going to look everywhere for Kai. She goes to the forest and finds footprints, but they are from a random person. Next she asks a friend where Kai could be, and they both go back to the forest. They go to a treehouse and find a book on the floor. The book has a picture of a hideout and a map to where it is. But, the hideout is hidden under a lot of snow. It took them an entire day to dig it out, but they found Kai! The lesson is that Kai will always have someone with him.

IN 10 YEARSIn 10 years I will be 18

When will you wake up in the morning?I will wake up at 6:49am so I can get ready for school

Where will you live?I will live in the dorms in college in Canada

NAJEHHow will you spend your free time?I will ride my bike,, hang out with friends, and read because I love to read

Who will you live with?When I’m a teenager I’ll live with my mom. In college I’ll live on my own

What would you like to be?I want to be a hip-hop dancer, singer, and an actress in a TV series.

Where would you want to go if you got a vacation?I will go to my country, Honduras. I will visit my family, protest, and help people who are bad

MY MONSTERMy monster is a type of catMy monster looks like she is fashionableShe sounds like a divaMy monster lives in heavenAt night my monster does her make up and tells me stuffMy monsters name is Nickie

IF YOU COULD REWRITE A PAGE IN YOUR LIFE, HOW WOULD YOU WRITE IT?Once there was a girl- she made a lot of mistakes and she didn’t always listen to people. She wished she could change and redo her life. Her friends were bullying her and saying things about her. She didn’t like it or understand why they would do that. She wished they would express their feelings to her. She wished she could change he life over and over again, anytime she made a mistake.

She got older and older and older and had to work hard. She started re-alizing that having bad experiences, getting bullied, waking up early, and going to school is part of life. Her life went on. She got married and had a boy, a girl, and a golden retriever named Nikki. She had to tell her kids that life was going to be hard, but it was worth it in the end.

HAIKUSo I met a girlIn fancy clothes and make upShe’s really pretty

APPRECIATION AND APPLAUSEAvalon Housing Volunteers: Bri, Caroline, Elaine, Hannah, Michelle, Murphy, NatashaAvalon Housing Staff MollieAvalon Housing Family & Community Services Team Leader Lauren VelezU-M Student Interns Annie, Melissa and Meredith Telling It Program Coordinator Emily Marshall

STANDING OVATION FOR THE ARTISTS Graphic Designer Alexander LeeMusician Matt SantanaPhotographer Leisa ThompsonPhotographer Elli GurfinkelVisual Artist Laura Amtower Visual Artist Valerie Mann

FUNDING AND SUPPORTAvalon HousingWashtenaw Coordinated FundersWashtenaw County Sheriff’s Office – Jerry L. Clayton, SheriffU-M LSA Residential CollegeMartin Family FoundationDick and Norma SarnsVictory Toyota CantonBank of Ann ArborChildren’s Literacy NetworkCon-way, Inc.Doug and Julie StotlarClaus E. ZielkeKiwanis Club of Ann Arbor FoundationRotary Club of Ann Arbor

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACTDeb Gordon-GurfinkelTelling It Founder & Director(734) 649-3118dmgordon@umich.edu