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Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul Book - Real-Life Stories by Real Teens

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Taking Risks

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By Taryn R., Lexington, MA

I'm walking quickly down a deserted street.

I didn't check the sign, and it's all very unfamiliar.

The scenery changes-

trees from green

to red

until their barren limbs clutch the white sky.

Cars with snow tires whiz by.

And when the snow melts,

I walk in slush - dirty with unforgotten memories of the Past

of the cruel cold winter.

Then - when the pavement is hot,

I walk - barefoot - braided strings around my ankles.

Fear is gone in summer, the sun like the passing of Time

dries everything up and buries it deep below the surface.

Some things I can predict:

when to wear mittens, when to wear shorts.

Other things I can't.

And do I want to?

Is it nicer not to know what is to come?

Up ahead is a crosswalk.

The sign says don't walk but I cross anyway.

You must take Risks-

or Time will pass without you

leaving you barren and dead

like the trees in winter.

This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.

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Teen Ink is a national teen magazine, book and website featuring teen writing, information, art, photos, poetry, teen issues and more. All articles are written by teen authors who are students at schools. The monthly print magazine is appropriate for any teenager -- teenagers age 13 to 19 attending secondary school: junior high school, middle school and high school. This publication is used by professional people including English teachers, writing teachers, language arts instructors, journalism teachers, school newspaper advisors, librarians, guidance counselors, K-12 principals in addition to the PTA or PTO. Each issue of Teen Ink magazine contains a wide variety of student work: we publish nonfiction, fiction, poems, community service, sports, heroes, interviews, college essays, college reviews, book reviews, concert reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, video reviews, video game reviews, the environment, opinion, sports, pets, cars, automobiles, travel and culture, jobs and money, health issues, artwork, photographs, cartoons, short stories, essays, writing contests, a college directory and the website also has a bulletin board and resources for teens and educators. Subjects include racism, eating disorders, depression, death, suicide, family, relationships, jobs, grandparents, violence, the college process, college information, colleges, driving, self esteem, the arts, movies and more. Teen Ink is also a book series published by HCI Teens. Subjects covered in the book include Friends, Fitting In, Love, Challenges, Family, Heroes, Loss and Memories. Teen Ink was established in 1989 as The 21st Century magazine by The Young Authors Foundation, a nonprofit organization. More than 25,000 teens have been published in the magazine and its companion Poetry Journal. Teen Ink runs a London Summer Program for teenage writers.