The document introduces the first issue of "The Westgate Studio," a student magazine created by the Creative Writing and Journalism Club at The Westgate School, which details the hard work that went into producing the magazine and highlights some of the articles and topics covered in this inaugural Christmas edition, such as women in music videos and what matters to students. It encourages readers to submit work to the next Valentine's Day issue and provides contact information for submissions.

1. December2013
TheWestgateStudio
TheStudentMagazine
ChristmasEdition

2. WelcometothefirsteditionofTheWestgateStudio;
the first student magazine atTheWestgate School!
This edition has been the culmination of the hard
work and dedication of a core group of students
who have worked hard at putting it together.
It hasn’t been easy. The first meeting of The
Creative Writing and Journalism Club was at-
tended by two students! The following week,
word spread and very soon the core group was
formed. These students have met week after
week, discussing ideas, writing, proofreading
and editing. It has been a long process. The one
thing they were very clear on was that the first
edition of The Westgate Studio was going to be
for the students. There is a real sense in this issue
of some of the things that you are talking about.
Imogen Trinder has explored the presentation of
women in music videos. Jade Portwain and Lau-
ra Harry write about things that matter to them
and remind us once again of the different facets
that make up students at The Westgate School.
Finally, we live in a world where free press is un-
der attack. Just this summer, one newspaper or-
ganisation was forced to destroy their computer
hard drives in order to protect their journalistic
integrity. The Westgate Studio is not just about ar-
ticles and issues but it is about words having the
power to make a difference. That is why we want
your articles, opinions, poetry and creative writ-
ing. As one distinguished writer has put it, words
can light fires in the minds of man and we want
you to remember this and have a go at writing.
Get Involved
The next edition of The Westgate Studio is the Valentine’s
Day issue! We want your poems and stories, whether real or
imaginary on that special theme: love!
Send all submissions to either:
ai@westgate.slough.sch.uk or cd@westgate.slough.sch.uk
WGS
WGS
1 2
The Westgate StudioThe Westgate Studio

3. CONTENTS
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
3 4
ARTICLES
• Rosa Parks - p.7
• Tranquility - p.11
• Escaped - p.19
• Untitled - p.20
• Anger - p.24
• What a Wonderful Day - p.27
• Women are meant to be Sassy.... - p.5
• Gender Debate - p.9
• Dealing with Defeat - p. 14
• On Your Wave Length - p.15
POEMS
• Masked - p.17
• Soldier - p.21
• Broken - p.22
• Flames - p.23
• Monster - p.24
SHORT
STORIES
• Christmas Crossword - p.28
GAMES
GET TO
KNOW THE
TEAM......

4. “Women are meant to be
SASSY,
CONFIDENT and
INDEPENDENT....”
6
The portrayal of women in the
media is something that remains
very controversial. Throughout
history, females such as Emme-
line Pankhurst and Margaret
Thatcher have fought for female
empowerment. The Suffragettes
campaigned for women’s rights,
hoping to make the lives of wom-
en better. However, even today
the work started by the Suffrag-
ette movement seems incomplete.
Women are powerful and inde-
pendent and just when it seems
that we might finally be moving
away from the negative stereo-
types of women… our very own
celebrities are letting us down.
The likes of Miley Cyrus and Ri-
hanna are broadcast scantily-clad
daily, right onto the same televi-
sions that the youth of today are
watching. But why do they do it?
Some celebrities, such as Ri-
hanna, shrug off the responsibil-
ity. “See, people ... they want me
to be a role model just because
of the life I lead. The role model
things I say in my songs, they
expect it of me, and [being a role
model] became more of my job than
I wanted it to be,” says Rihanna, who
is 25. She has also claimed on her In-
stagram account that “Role Model is
not a position or title that I have ever
campaigned for, so chill wit dat!"
Regardless of the singer’s views,
it is hard to agree that the singer has
no responsibility in becoming a pos-
itive role model, as she deliberately
courts the support of young girls, or
her self-titled ‘Rihanna Navy.’
Singer Will Young responded
to Rihanna in ‘Women should be
empowering and own their bodies;
I don't think Rihanna is.’ The self-ti-
tled ‘good girl gone bad,’ always
has chart-topping records and her
music videos always have Youtube
hits of over a million, so it is unde-
niable that she is an idolised figure
throughout the world. While it is fair
that she did not ‘campaign’ for the ti-
tle of role model, Rihanna, amongst
other celebrities, must accept that it’s
part of her job whether she likes it or
not and needs to embrace this.
Rihanna’s stunts include regularly
smoking marijuana and posting the pic-
tures on her Instagram and Twitter ac-
counts, wearing highly sexualised outfits
and singing very explicit lyrics. While
Rihanna may think that she is powerful
and respected… quite bluntly, it seems
she’s making an idiot of herself!
Disney star-turned rebel Miley Cyrus
shed her ‘good girl’ image along with
her long brown locks and is now one of
the world’s most controversial singers.
Since then, the 21-year-old pop singer
has been seen posing naked in the video
for her recent hit Wrecking Ball, smok-
ing marijuana and endorsing the Amer-
ican fad of ‘twerking.’ As an ex-Disney
star, Miley has many young fans and her
recent behaviour has been condemned
by many businesses, stars and parents.
Youtube have put an eighteen plus re-
striction on her music video, claiming it
has ‘explicit adult content.’ Miley claims
that the nudity actually has a deep and
very personal message to communicate
to her fans and that it reflects where she
is in her life at the moment. However,
her behaviour is concerning due to her
fan-base of ‘Smilers’. These consist main-
ly of pre-teen and teenage girls who
remember her country-girl persona,
Hannah Montana and still idolise her
regardless.
After a problematic history and battle
for power and equality for women, it is
frustrating that these women that have
such a public presence are allowing their
images to become sexualized. Double
standards exist in the music indus-
try with women being encouraged to
dress provocatively whilst men remain
covered up. Has the battle for equality
actually been won? It’s time that these
women realise that their behaviour
affects the rest of us and it’s time for it to
stop.
So why are some women making us feel
idiotic?
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
Imogen Trinder- Year 13

5. The Westgate Studio
Great
Women
In
History
The Westgate Studio
Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
They all glare towards the back of the bus
all white eyes filled with anger and hatred fixed on me.
I remain calm
hold my ground
I will not budge.
My kind are too frightened to make a stand
Too frightened to undergo the consequences of retaliating
Me? I don’t fear them.
They are merely cowards in my eyes
no worth or authority at all,
Nothing but pale skin and judgements
The only power they hold is a pair of cuffs
The same cuffs I will later hold.
The strength of my determination and fight for equality is as endless as
The hatred they possess for my kind.
I want to change it all,
change the brutality and misfortune.
As the steal cuffs interlock my brown skin
I take my last breathe of freedom and cherish every second
an ice cold shiver trickles down my spine
I’m not finished.
This is not over.
The revolution of equality.
Zehna Khan- Year 12
7 8

6. IS
FEMINISM
DEAD?
Have traditional gender stereotypes
disappeared? In the great gender
debate, two writers tell us what they
think.The Westgate Studio
9
YES
‘Where do women belong? In the kitchen!’
‘Where do women belong? In the kitchen!’ is a
remark known to be the truth to many and ‘sexist’
to a misguided few. Treating females unfairly
because of their sex is considered sexist however
saying women belong in the kitchen isn’t really
sexist- is it? Have you wondered why women have
smaller feet than men? So they can stand closer to
the kitchen sink.
The small minority of women who disagree that
a woman’s place is in the kitchen are stubborn.
It’s not that hard cooking and cleaning for your
husband and children is it? As a matter of fact,
men being the dominant gender are blessed to be
versatile and they can cook and clean but tradition-
ally speaking, it’s not their job as it is the occupa-
tion of a woman.
Furthermore, cooking and cleaning isn’t as hard
as it seems. It’s a talent which women have been
given. We are aware of some men who are con-
sidered less of a man or a coward because they’re
weak and petrified at times- however, this is similar
to women who can’t cook. They are recognised as
being less of a woman which is embarrassing not
only for them but for their friends and family.
On the other hand, women can also enjoy life
out of the kitchen; they don’t have to be in the
kitchen all day. Just become better at multi-tasking
as being a woman and not knowing how to cook is
disgraceful.
It’s never too late! If you’re a woman and you
know you can’t cook: be ‘intelligent’. Get in the
kitchen and use your ‘brain’ and learn how to
cook- so you’re acknowledged as a real woman and
not a disgrace to your gender!
Anonymous J- year 11
NO
‘The Superior Sex’
Are woman really the weaker sex? Ah, I don’t think
so. Some people, mostly a minority of men- (don’t
worry we won’t judge your whole gender for the
views of an ignorant few) think that women still
belong in the kitchen. Is this fair? Of course it isn’t.
Women can do everything men can and generally
we do it better.
The problem with society today is that we think
that we are really enlightened but take a look at the
way women are presented in the media and you
realise that women don’t have it easy and we have
to start fighting back.
Men: worried that you can’t cook? Well it’s quite
simple really; all you have to do is learn to cook.
The fact that you think you need women to do this
for you only tells me one thing. It tells me that you
are the weaker sex as you are the ones that need
a helping hand. You are spoiled, pampered and
immature and frankly I think it’s time you grew
up. We might joke that boys mature later than girls
but why are we still making useless excuses for
the weaker sex? Isn’t it time that we made them
acknowledge their shortcomings instead of them
trying to make us feel bad for our accomplish-
ments?
We live in a society where sexism is rife but we
don’t do enough to challenge it. Earlier this year
Caroline Criado-Perez, a feminist activist cam-
paigned for the image of a woman to be put on
bank notes. If it was up to men there would only
be images of men. For her troubles she had to put
up with abuse and threats, just because she wanted
to champion the achievement of women. Ulti-
mately though she won and she proves that every
little stand matters in the fight against sexism and
the next time you hear someone say that women
belong in the kitchen, challenge their outdated
chauvinistic assumption and put sexism back in its
place.
Emanuela Sannino- year 7
Got an opinion on ‘The Great Gender Debate’ or want to comment on the views of the writers on this
page?
Email all comments with the subject line TGGD to ai@westgate.slough.sch.uk and we’ll print some of
your views in the next issue.
The Westgate Studio
10

7. Tranquility11 12
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
Gemma Toogood-
Year 7
Water
Glimmer, shine and shimmer
Across the water’s surface
Ripples, waves and glorious dancers
Balancing gracefully on the water’s edge
Sun-kissed by God
The sea jealous
The river of water
Comes first in all competitions
There is no challenge,
A gift from heaven
The balance is in place.
Would it tip if the water was frozen?
The Mountains
Reaching high
Grasping air
Competing with the trees
Come the mountains of the earth
People climb
Animals strive
Living under the sun
Standing out amongst the rest
Struggling to be normal
Plants shooting out here and there
And yet they are lonely
Oh so lonely.
The Fire
Coughing and choking
Destroying everything in its path
Living things struggle to survive
Against its pull
In its outrageous heat
Flames flicker and frolic
The dance of death gets stronger
The flame will not give up.
Breathing
I breathe
I am alive
Or am I?
What am I doing wrong?
I am breathing
I feel:
Strange
Alone
Desolate
Despised
Hatred.
But I am breathing
I must be alive.

8. 13
The word defeat makes you feel weak, useless and
worthless and although dealing with defeat is difficult,
it will provide a compelling test of someone’s character.
After all, handling defeat is part of the formula for be-
ing successful. You can’t always be a winner so getting
defeated will help you to strive to become better.
People who are immature can have an ugly reaction
to losing, this also goes for people who are spoilt and
used to getting what they want. They will have an ugly
reaction to defeat because it is foreign to them and
they aren’t used to losing. They may erupt with anger
or they may become grief-stricken and confused when
handling defeat. Others may become in denial because
they cannot believe that they have lost and yet you
should act with dignity when losing as this will define
you as a sports personality.
If you can deal with defeat quite well this will show
that you are ready to move to the next level of competi-
tion. When dealing with the defeat, you should go face
the opposition and praise them as this could also help
you feel better about yourself. You have to understand
that not everything will always go your way.
But when handling defeat how are we supposed to
respond to it? A lot of people are uncomfortable when
addressing the subject of losing because they think you
should have to win all the time. Accepting your defeat
is the best thing to do; if you don’t accept it you will
not be able to move on to the next challenge and there-
fore this loss will become a burden for you. It would be
okay to cry, to feel anger and frustration with your loss
but you do need to accept it.
There is nothing wrong with having some privacy to
release your emotions and to think of how you should
move forward but not everyone can do this. Its hard
just to express and let out your feelings but if you are
able to vent to your friend about the loss, it would be
good because you won’t be bottling things up.
Remember: failing is not the end of the world. Fail,
get up and try again. That is the only way to succeed.
Tre Richardson- Crump
Year 12
The Westgate Studio
DealingWith
Defeat
14
The Westgate Studio
Got a hobby that you could write about in the next edition?
Email your stories with the subject line HOBBIES to ai@westgate.
slough.sch.uk
and we’ll print it in the next issue.
Air Cadets –
Why it will make
you a Better Person!
Hello! I’m Jade and I am 16 and for three
years now, I have been a member of the
Air Cadets and I can tell you now... it was
one of the greatest decisions I have ever
made! I decided to change something
about my life when I was 13 (Girl
Guides didn’t challenge me enough!).
I was at an air show when I saw the
Red Arrows; watching their daring
manoeuvres and talented aerobatics left
me astounded To be as amazing as them,
I was told Air Cadets would help me get
there. I prepared and just went for it!
I’ll admit, I was absolutely terrified
when I first went to 2477 Britwell Squad-
ron; the new faces, the uniform and
shouting staff but all it took was to make
friends to feel relaxed and the last three
years I’ve been there have been the best.
It still feels like last month I joined! I
can talk about the Air Cadets for hours
– my friends will back me up on that!
Right, onto the exciting stuff! Can
you imagine yourself flying a plane
in six months time? I didn’t think
so either, but I did. I can still re-
member staring out the window
and beaming as the aircraft left the
ground.Thepilotofferedmecontroland
I managed to perform a loop! It’s such a
breath-takingfeeling,soaringabovethe
clouds with the unknown mysteries of
pure endless blue sky ahead. You have
so much independence and freedom
in that moment: it is truly wonderful!
I have also shot a rifle and am trained
for this; I’ve attended RAF stations,
accomplished an obstacle course the
Army use to train, pushed myself to the
limit and beyond, slept in below zero
temperatures outside on field exercises,
dressed up and attended balls – I even
met the Queen and Prince Philip! But
mostofall,I’veworkedaspartofateam.
I have made friends and without them
I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
I have so much more self-confidence
and I feel like there is nothing I can’t do.
We’re just like one big, happy family!
You have to take charge and show
leadership. You have to find that super-
starinsideofyouwhocanspeakinfront
of hundreds – we can all do it! – and
even have a chat with the Queen!
Are you up for it?
Jade Portwain- Year 12

9. On Your Wave Length....
Radio Wexham is the
radio station at our local
hospital Wexham Park
in Stoke Poges. It was
established in 1967 and
is still going strong by
taking requests for the
patients at the hospi-
tal. We try our ultimate
best to make the time
of all patients in hospi-
tal more enjoyable by
willingly have a conver-
sation with them and
taking a song request of
their choice. Whatever
the song genre or era,
we are guaranteed to
have it in our wide mu-
sic collection.
I am a voluntary mem-
ber of Radio Wexham
and have been since
August this year. The
station is run entire-
ly by volunteers; I am
thoroughly enjoying my
time at Radio Wexham
because it has really
boosted my confidence
in meeting new people.
I have made some new
friends too. Radio Wex-
ham is for the patients
and and about people
spending some time to
make someone’s eve-
ning more enjoyable
and to involve everyone.
It is important to respect
the patients and their
needs.
We occasionally do
“Outside Broadcasts”.
In the time I have been
here, we have been
committed and taken
our own time to support
Heatherwood Hospi-
tal’s 90th birthday and
supply the music for
Farnham Royal’s cricket
club fireworks display.
We have also gone to
Sainsbury’s on the Ux-
bridge Road to raise
money for the radio
station as we have a to-
tal we must reach each
year to keep going.
However, my favourite
broadcast that I have
been part of so far was
the 24 hour CPR Chal-
lenge for BBC’s Children
in Need. I took part
in the CPR challenge
and also supported the
Radio station by supply-
ing some great tunes
to keep the vibe. Some
popular disco tracks
were played several
times which got many
people including myself
dancing to raise lots
of money for a brilliant
charity, who I much
thank for their work and
dedication to those who
are in need.
In October half term, I
did the request show for
the
first time with two other
members. The request
show is from 9 – 10pm
every Thursday. I was
quite nervous about
speaking on air with
many listeners tuning
in but I really enjoyed
it and would definite-
ly take the opportunity
again.
The festive season is
fast approaching and
most of the members
will be dressing up for
Christmas. We all enjoy
having fun and making
it enjoyable for others
but especially being on
your wavelength.
Laura Harry - Year 12
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
15 16

10. The long legged woman hurried down 49th street not acknowledging the haze of
traffic surrounding her. Bright yellow taxi cabs swarmed the two-way street as
cars beeped impatiently to get a move on. As she walked, her stilettos pounded
against the uneven pavements; her stride was long and purposeful. She meant
business. She ignored the lascivious look of a driver with his window rolled up:
she had no time for petty games. The driver seeming to sense her mood decided
to drive off but not before splashing remnants of a dirty brown puddle on her
tightly fitted pencil skirt. She groaned in displeasure as her emerald eyes flashed
with a warning. Ringlets of her fiery red hair bounced in dismay- she had no idea
who the driver was but he had made a big mistake in annoying her.
She continued. There was nothing else for her to do. She began to mentally
count down as her destination became closer. It was not an extraordinary build-
ing but then they never are but it was a hugely deceptive one. Her blood red,
pointy-toed Christian Louboutins made their way along the marbled floor, the
red sole a warning to everyone to move away. She drew attention wherever she
went and their predatory eyes followed her every move. She didn’t allow them to
see her fluster. One little sign and she knew it would all be over.
She walked discreetly towards the elevator doors and as she walked she saw an
obscure looking man in an ordinary grey suit. A man that could have lived any-
where in the world; the kind of man you see every day on your way to work and
pay no attention to. She too paid him no attention but she discreetly slipped on
the ear piece that he passed her way.
He was no one she knew and no one that she would see again so she didn’t give
him another moment’s thought. He was not the end game.
Her eyes flickered gently from side to side as she decided which route to take.
She needed to wait for instructions; the instructions that would tell her how this
would play out. To pass the time she walked back into the crowded lobby; people
were constantly walking in and out and no one had the time to stop and notice
someone who did just that. The lobby was a rich man’s lobby and had the glint of
money on its surfaces. It made her sick. As her disparaging eyes continued sur-
veying her scene, she felt something change before she could identify what has
happened.
The woman turned around languidly and her emerald eyes honed in on every-
one around her. It was not any of them. Confusion began to well up inside the
woman; she should know by now, that’s why she had the reputation that she did.
Her internal reprimand was interrupted by the ping of the elevator doors. The
doors opened and she saw his powerful body before she clearly saw his face but
she knew. She knew she had found him.
Her red heels seemed to take on a life of their own as she strode towards the
elevator doors; there was no hesitation now. She did not look at him. They were
just two strangers standing in an elevator, both of them going up. Neither spoke,
although someone would soon have to be the first. This was how it always began
and this mission would be no different.
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
1817
MASKEDBy Laila Haibe- Year 10

11. ES CAP EI a l m o s t m a d e i t
I a l m o s t e s c a p e d
Y o u s h o v e d m e o u t t h e d o o r
S o w h e n I l e f t a n d s a i d m y f a r e w e l l s
Y o u r e a c h e d m e a n d g r a b b e d m e a g a i n
I w a s s o c l o s e t o g e t t i n g o u t .
W h y d i d I h a v e t o s a y m y f a r e w e l l s ?
I t o n l y a n g e r e d y o u
I f o r g o t h o w c y n i c a l y o u a r e
A b r i e f s e n s e o f h o p e
D a r k e n e d b y y o u r h a t e f u l n e s s
I t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e a p a i n l e s s g o o d b y e
B u t a s I w a l k e d t o w a r d s t h e d o o r
Y o u t h r e a t e n e d m y s o u l
M y l i f e
O h , h o w y o u f i l l m e w i t h s t r i f e
C h a i n e d t o m e
F o r c e d b y b l a c k m a i l
Y o u p i e r c e d m y h e a r t w i t h n a i l .
M i c h a l T y n o r - y e a r 9
‘In the end
there is
only
darkness.
Sometimes
we find
others in
that
darkness,
and sometimes
we
lose them there
again.’
Stephen King
Untitled
He painted our room black
but I kept silent
He brought me darkness
but I smiled
Others came to my house,
to our room
But I ignored them.
They broke the sofa
so I replaced it with chairs
They took my things
so I cried.
Amandil Kaur Dhawan- year 12
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
19 20

12. Gunshots blazed towards me, roaring and striking fear in
my heart. I look down and see the gun that they have put
in my hands tremble. They have given me this weapon and
they expect me to become something that I am not; some-
thing that I am not capable of being. They expect me to
become a soldier. They expect me to die. This is not what
I want but as my injuries threaten to overwhelm me, I fear
that they might be right.
Isn’t it funny that your own side no longer seems to be
good? I could happily walk away from them all and not
worry about any of them. I think the others feel the same.
We are sleepwalkers who do what we are told but don’t un-
derstand why. Some nights the thought of what I am doing
nearly destroys me; the nightmares that follow are almost
a welcome relief. The nightmares remind me of the pain,
the loss and the suffering that I have seem but at least they
are honest. At least they don’t pretend that everything is
going to be okay when the truth is clearly the opposite.
My eyes flicker and I wonder if this is my final moment.
It wasn’t how I thought I would go: alone, miserable and
feeling completely empty. On the other hand maybe it’s
best to just let go and absolve myself of the pain that I am
feeling and yet something in me fights against this. Some-
thing in me accepts the pain as it is a sign that I haven’t
lost. I grit my teeth and will myself to fight for myself.
I am a soldier and I am born again today. I will perse-
vere. I will not let them win.
Ellesse- May Wilson
year 9
TheSoldier
The thunder roared as I clenched my jaw and I continued looking outside the
isolated attic window. My body was numb; I couldn’t feel anything but the inter-
nal heartache that refused to go away. A sharp dust of cold wind gushed through
the room and I felt an icy chill of it run though my spine causing me to shiver. I
couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, even for a millisecond,
the only thing I could picture was the burning flames of the fire. The fire that took
everything from me; the fire that stole everything I lived for.
As I pondered into a spinning whirl of emptiness, my mother came up with a
tray of food resting in her hands. I didn’t look up but I could feel her warm pres-
ence and I knew what she would say before she even opened her mouth. “John
darling, please eat something. It’s been 2 months; you have to be strong and think
about your health.” I stayed silent. I couldn’t allow even a word to squeeze out of
my body; the consequences were unthinkable, the pain that would follow would
be unbearable.
Words make little sense to me. The only thing I allow myself to think about
is my family; the family that I lost…in a deadly fire. I feel like it was my fault. I
blame myself for going on that business trip that may have only been for two days
but these are days that I can never take back. If I had been there maybe things
would have been different. I torture myself with this thought every day and whilst
I am a little more lucid I do realise, even momentarily that there is little that I
could have done but it doesn’t matter. All I have left is blame and guilt. It is this
that I use to keep me warm and it is this that propels my shell of a body to carry
on.
I have been broken; crushed into fragments of glass. I miss my family. Such
a simple sentiment and yet its powerful force propels me into a black cloud of
misery that dances around me, it’s waves encasing themselves around me until I
am part of it. My beloved wife. How I miss her delicate lips when they brushed
against mine. My precious son. The shards of glass pierce my heart when I think
of them and I think of them all the time. Perhaps this is my punishment. Perhaps I
deserve this for not being there with them. And for being here now, without them.
I have been told that I have to carry on with my life. That I have to live for them
but if I do that I am abandoning them. I am abandoning my wife and son. I can-
not do that. Not yet. I am broken and with my glass heart I have to live but I can’t
go on without them. I don’t know how.
Aliza Asad- year 10
21 22
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio

13. ‘Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.’
Two different writers, two different pieces of writing, one theme…
Sometimes other people cause the anger...
Flames
How could she do this to me? She was meant to be my friend. My best
friend! I feel as though she has pulled out my heart and viciously sliced
a chunk out of it. Respect, loyalty and trust; the defining features of any
relationship and she has destroyed them all.
I am going to kill her. No! I am going to torture her, make her suffer
the way that I have suffered. She smiles in my face and then plunges a
dagger into my spine. The frosty atmosphere is unbearable; it’s as if our
faces have been carved into ice but the flames inside of us are making
us melt, deteriorate and decay unable to compete with the fire of our
anger.
A faint fear seems to sprint through my veins and my head feels like
it is going to erupt and fire hot grit. My pulse is racing as if this might
be my last moment. My ears. They burn. The crimson blood is being
drained from my face and hot, moist, clammy sweat pours from my
scalp. The sharp adrenaline sprints through my body. Why is everything
so quiet? How can the silence seem so loud?
I can taste the anger; thick and metallic. She’s caused my body to be-
have in this way. She said she would take a bullet for me not shoot it at
me. She has frozen the heat in my body, piercing my skin with her cold,
bitter and deadly stare that drained my soul. This is not the end and yet
as she walks away with a fiery glint in her eye, my life slowly slipping
away. I have just one thought. This is not the end.
Rene Gill- year 12
Sometimes the anger is inside you...
Anger
Anger is like a flame,
it grows,
bigger and bigger,
it brings violence.
Go near it and
you get burnt.
Anger is like tyres,
rubbing against the road,
causing friction,
getting hotter and hotter.
Burning.
Anger is in your head.
You think
You see
You wonder
why everyone is against you,
but really it is just your anger.
Anger is like a flame,
it grows,
bigger and bigger,
it brings violence.
Go near it and
you get burnt.
Charley Sprenger- year 9
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
23 24

14. THE MONSTER
It was a wretched day;just like the feel-
ing in my soul. My soul or what was left of it was slowly cor-
rupting and corroding, withering away to shards of nothingness. It felt like
I had lost all direction and could no longer distinguish between right or
wrong and with everyone turning their back on me, there was no sunlight
or glimmer of hope left. All I could hear were the rain drops falling mourn-
fully outside. The city is filled with hypocrites, charlatans and demons all
trying to cajole me, wilfully manipulating me into becoming someone else.
Someone that I didn’t want to be.
It wasn’t always like this.
I won’t bore you with the specifics of my life. That won’t interest any-
one. What I will tell you is this: it began with one wrong turn. Doesn’t it
always? That one wrong turn had me facing something I hadn’t been
expecting; that was the day that I stared death in the face. The face still
haunts me today. I was left traumatised, bewildered by the frightening
scene in which I found myself.
The monster I faced was terrifying and dangerous but it left without
saying a word. It crept away, without a single word. There was nothing I
could do; I didn’t even know if it was real or a figment of my imagination.
You cannot fight a figment or a feeling but you can fight a monster.
Looking back, I guess it was the not knowing which was the worst part of
it all.
From that day on, I was plagued by images of the monster that
seemed to come into my dreams. Thoughts of the monster drove me to
craziness and I was consumed with the idea of finding it; finding out what
it all meant, but there was a heavy price to my obsession.
It started slowly. First I lost my job. Then a friend. And then another. Now,
no day is a good day and even the brightest days are eclipsed by the
mist of depression that permeates my life. It is just me and the rain which
I hear all the time. Its endless drip feels like my soul disappearing forev-
er.
And so it begins once more. The world has turned into a haze of dark
demented colours; it is filled with slurred and incomprehensible words
and I am falling… falling into the abyss. I fall until there in front of me, I
see words forming on demented lips; my mind feels like it is bleeding
and my thoughts are oozing out of my skull. The power of the monster
pulsates and soon its life form seems to grow bigger until I feel like it will
enclose everything in its claw. My body shakes and I hold my head as it
feels like I have a migraine on an unimaginable scale but then it stops.
The nightmare has stopped. Or has it?
Slowly the monster fades away and I am no longer sure what is real
and what is fantasy. I can see a blurred image now walking towards me
and feel myself shake with terror. I am about to face it. I think I have
always known that this day would come. Perhaps I also knew what the
monster really was. Who it was. I pull myself together. It was time: it was
time to face the demon.
Jai Chauhan- year 9
The Westgate Studio
25

15. What aWonderful
Day!
Christmas day and the children are singing,
Christmas day and the bells are ringing,
With snow ball fights and chilly nights,
What a wonderful day!
The holly and the ivy,
The happy and the jivey,
We are all ever so lively,
On Christmas day!
Waiting for Santa Clause,
Hoping for iPhones and much more,
All because of the joy this day brings,
Oh let us get ready for Christmas Day,
My oh my,
What a wonderful day!
Sophie Belcher- year 7
27 28
The Westgate Studio The Westgate Studio
Christmas Crossword
Across
2 Wishes written on paper make this (4)
4 _ _ _ to the world (3)
5 The Christmas season (8)
8 Santa will bring me a _ _ _ (3)
9 The main jolly elf (5)
10 Santa's helper (3)
11 They twinkle and glow (6)
13 Standing under this means a kiss (9)
15 Wrap with paper, ribbon and a _ _ _ (3)
16 Desire (4)
17 Freedom from war (5)
Down
1 That white frozen guy (6)
3 If you send some, you will get some (5)
4 Full of good humour and high spirits (5)
6 Glittering material used for decorations (6)
7 Large, festive meal (5)
8 Special delights or pleasures (6)
12 Frozen flakes of it fall from the sky (4)
14 First word of famous Christmas poem (4)
16 What you do before giving a present (4)

16. Next Edition:
Valentine’s Day
‘Writer of the Month’
Competition:
Win dinner tickets for you and your Valentine to Nandos
Got any good Valentine pieces for the
next edition? Email them to:
CD@westgate.slough.sch.uk.