• The fallen leaves swirled in the autumn breeze as she sat on a bench near a dirt road. She held her bent leg while the other was stretched out. A picture came into her imagination and she moved to her bag to reach for her sketch pad. But by the time she got it, her idea was gone, almost as if the wind swept it away with the leaves. She just sat there, doing nothing, when a raven landed a few steps away. What was stolen was now returned to her. She decided to draw that beautiful bird, its pitch black feathers, sharp beak and all. Lucky for her, the bird did not move much.

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    With her pad rested on her thighs, she was just about to finish when the raven flew off. Perfect timing, perfect picture.


    - Carly Ivanowski