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The Art of Arthur Reisman by Mark Kadzielawa

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  The news of Mr. Reisman’s passing came out of nowhere. One moment, everything was ordinary—and the next, I found myself completely still, caught off guard by the weight of it. One of my favorite teachers was gone. Almost without thinking, my mind drifted back to 1987. I could see it clearly—the classroom, the desks, the familiar rhythm of senior year at East Leyden High School. Drawn by that feeling, I went to my old photo album, certain there were pictures from his class tucked somewhere inside. I flipped through the pages, and there they were—snapshots of a time I hadn’t visited in years. At first, I thought I would simply share them as a tribute. But as I lingered over each photo, something shifted. Faces, moments, laughter—memories I didn’t even realize I still carried began to surface, one after another. It was more than nostalgia. It was a reminder of how much that time, that class, and that teacher had meant. And so I decided to do more than post a few pictures. I decided ...
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The Sentimental Barista by Mark Kadzielawa

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  Shopping for music, movies and books always calmed him down.  He just loved being around the art; being in his own little world.  There was magic all over the place.  There was so much knowledge staring back at him.  It was a treasure trove with so much waiting to be discovered.  But as he enjoyed being around such a wonderful place his mind was going back to her.  As he thought about her, he envisioned her in his arms, felt her skin, he tried to remember her smell.  He smiled to himself, and continued to shop, looking at the displays in front of him.  Each little area was filled with something special.  It was overwhelming at times.  Despite all of this, his mind was somewhere else.  It was pre-occupied by her.  Why?  Was it because he was in the area where they used to meet?  Was it because she lived nearby?  Whatever it was, it was running circles around him.  His consciousness told him, “ It’s imp...
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The Last Unopened Christmas Gift by Mark Kadzielawa

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  What else needs to be said about Christmas that hasn’t been said before? It is definitely the most special time of the year. The decorations, the variety of colors, the tree, the ornaments, and lights, lights, and lights again. Even during the coldest and snowiest winter, there is something very warm about Christmas. Many claim it is their favorite time of the year, even though a beach is nowhere close in sight. Nothing beats the feel of the Christmas gifts about to be opened. The excitement from the ones who give and the ones who receive… just wow. How can you match that?  As the gifts continued to disappear from under my tree this year, there was one that stayed behind. It was just lying there, lonely and abandoned. Whether the tree was lit or dark, that one gift was waiting patiently for its destined owner. So, who gets the last gift? A person very dear to me, and a person who loves gifts, who loves shopping, and enjoys the Christmas spirit. Who is it? My mother. Only thi...
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