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| Features November 2004, Volume 8, No. 2 |
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By: Rachel B.
Howard Carver and Brian Peterson were the best young Egyptologists ever, or so everyone said. They had the great luck of finding the richest tomb ever in the pyramid of the young Pharaoh ToottiFrootti. They were already rich and famous, but something was driving them. They wanted to be the ones to find the Mummy’s Cave, the legendary mummification temple of the pharaohs.
Brian had gone out a week ago, having found clues in the ancient hieroglyphics of Tootti-Frootti’s sarcophagus. He had never returned. Now Howard went out in search of his friend and his future.
Howard knew that this was the biggest find in all of Egypt. To be in the Mummy’s Cave was exhilarating, but terrifying. He knew that he couldn’t remove any of the sacred jars or else he would be cursed and die a terrible death. Actually, he wasn’t supposed to be in here either, but the thought of discovering the ancient mummification chamber was too much to leave him alone.
Cautiously, Howard approached the altar topped with nine jars. The room was dimly lit and too small for him to bring in any lights. Not enough light to see what’s in the jars, Howard thought. Guess I’ll just have to feel what’s in them. He reached into the first jar, and felt cold slimy balls. (Pause) Oh, ugh! Eyeballs! Howard quickly withdrew his arm and wiped his hand on his pants. “Let’s try jar number two,” he said to himself, trying to be brave.
He took a deep breath and reached into the second jar, really reached. Huh. Maybe this one’s empty. At least it’s not squishy wait, there’s something in here. He felt two small, dried things, slightly gummy. Howard made a face and quickly removed his hand. The things in the jar were ears, human ears. Howard shuddered and leaned against a wall. He really just wanted to leave, but he had discovered this place, and he didn’t want someone else to come along and take credit for his discovery. Howard resolved to finish the investigation.
In the third jar, Howard felt a long, bumpy object. It wasn’t slimy, but it felt weird. He realized that it was a nose. Howard gritted his teeth and moved on to the fourth jar. Before thrusting his hand inside, he paused. Could have sworn I heard footsteps he thought. Shrugging his shoulders, he continued.
The fourth jar’s contents were coarse and damp. It wasn’t really gross, until Howard realized that the jar contained hair, mounds and mounds of long, rough hair.
The fifth jar held a long, knobby, and dry object. Fingers creeping along, he was clueless, until he remembered his days of working in a butcher shop. The fifth jar held a bone, an arm bone judging from its length.
The sixth jar had lots of little, hard, semiround objects in it. Feeling the pointed ends of the objects, Howard remembered his little sister, Jenny, who had saved all her baby teeth in a Mason jar. This jar was full of teeth, but they were too big to be baby teeth, and there seemed to be too many for one, or even two mouths... There! He’d heard those footsteps again, hadn’t he? Oh, well. Just keep going.
The seventh jar held four wet, fistsized objects. Howard shrieked, “Oh, EEEEWWWWW! It’s kidneys!” He yanked out his hand and backed away from the altar. “Calm down!” he told himself angrily. “There’s just two jars left, and then I can leave.”
Howard stuck his hand in the eighth jar. The thing inside felt cold, a little slimy, and very gross. He felt around some more. “Oh my gosh! It’s a liver!” Howard pulled out his hand. Oh, he really wanted to leave now, but there was only one jar left. Surely he could do just one more jar. He stuck his hand into the ninth and final jar, and was greeted by cold, slimy guts!! Howard yanked his hand out of the jar. “Okay, that’s it! I’m done and I’m outta here,” he cried. “But why is everything so slimy? It’s ancient, and should have dried out a long time ago.” He stopped short. Now he knew why Brian had never returned. why the locals avoided this place. He turned and ran to the door, but stopped short. In front of him was a dry, rasping creature. Howard tried to scream, but the monster grabbed his throat and dragged him further into the underground crypt.
Neither Howard Carver nor Brian Peterson were ever heard from again. The locals went to the mouth of the cave, curious as to what had happened to the two foolish young explorers. They found three sets of footprints. Two sets were of work boots, but the third had a shuffling gait, and trailed something after it. The locals shook their heads at each other. They knew the truth, and decided to seal up the cave, so no one could ever suffer the same fate as Howard and Brian.
But every now and then, a camel, or a wanderer disappears, and the locals wonder. Did they really stop the monster of the Mummy’s Cave?’
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Talking to Ms. Ahn, New FACS Teacher
By: Jenna S., Cristina R.
How do you like teaching FACS?
The teachers here are really nice. The kids are really respectful to everyone. I also enjoy teaching fun things in FACS class.
What kinds of things do you teach?
In 6th grade they learn about Goal Setting and Child Development. They also get the "Baby Think It Over" project.
Students learn about the Food Pyramid, and cooking in 7th grade.
By 8th grade, students are ready to learn about Media Literacy and a little bit of cooking – and of course there is the Senior Luncheon!
What did you do before you came to Peacock?
I worked in Buffalo Grove in an elementary school. I was a teacher's aid for reading and a 2nd grade teacher.
What are your hobbies?
Shopping, movies, hanging out with friends, and card stamping.
What college did you go to?
University of Illinois
What have you learned since you started teaching here?
To be organized, have fun teaching, and think hard.
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The Zoo Debate
BY KARA F.
At the Capitol Zoo, the animals decided to have a debate on who should be the President of the zoo. The Elephant and Donkey were running, and the Owl was the mediator. Whenever they were debating, the Elephant would talk more than he should so the Donkey would have less to say. The Donkey also switched up the Elephant’s notes, so the Elephant would be confused. The Owl tried to correct the Elephant and the Donkey, and he was always fair and wise. On Election Day, 98% of the animals voted for the Owl in a write in vote because they didn’t want an animal that they didn’t trust for a President. The other 2% who didn’t vote for the Owl were the Elephant and the Donkey because they voted for themselves. So, the Owl has become President and the Elephant and the Donkey were upset.
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