Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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Back to School List

I will not go to school
unless I have the following:
(Some I need to buy brand new, the rest I don’t mind borrowing)

A backpack (new) and
a mobile phone (new)
a generous spray
of men’s cologne (borrowing)
A bottle of gel for my perfect hair (borrowing)
A fresh new pair of underwear (definitely not borrowing)
A pair of kicks (new)
for my soccer tricks,
red and black for flair (they help me score midair)
A soccer jersey with my name (new)
No one else will have the same
That’s all I really need from you—
What?
Okay, fine . . . some pencils too.