Pilgrim's Egress

By: Alicia Perry
Mrs. Lippe's 12 Grade; Principal or Director: Martin Noto
Liberty Christian, Denton, Texas, USA

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Princess Fatigua dipped her head
Her drowsy eyelids drooping as if made of lead
With a jolt she sat up straight
But it was already too late
Oh, no! I'm dead!

Sir Assignalot addressed her name
Bending over the desk of the poor dame
Billows of smoke crept out of his nose
She nervously gulped her itchy throat
Ring! Saved by the bell....what a shame!

Gathering her books up all in a tiff
She stretched her neck, ever so stiff
Hustled down the Hallway of the Shadow of Death
Heavy backpack made her out of breath
Burdens too bulky to even lift

Like the pack of all of her friends
It contained papers and projects with no end
And she found her mind up in the clouds
Bumping her way through the crowds
Overwhelmed by the homework time she had to spend

Why did her schedule make her so dizzy?
Athletics and band already made her busy
One hundred percent she always gave
But lately she thought her patience might cave
She was fed up with each test and quizzy!

At her locker, there they stood
Not looking at all healthy or good
All accepting the fact everyday
That on their backs their packs would stay
Unless they drop out, which none of them could

Fellow princesses tried to hug but looked lame
"Hi there. Sleepy," Fatigua exclaimed
Yawning in unison made the two girls giggle
They greeted their pal Drowsy who staggered a little
"I stayed up until three!" she explained

"Ah, the essay Coach Beelzebub asked us to write?"
They all nodded except for one sickly sight
Sniffly's excuse: "I'm under the weather, you know"
"You too?" piped up Moody, who's disgust showed
"Well, III be staying up late again tonight"

Princess Fatigua shrugged, glancing up with a frown
Her big awkward bag made her feel like a clown
"I'm used to the work" - said her voice, full of strife
She paused shyly. "It's my life,"
"But it's wearing me down"

She noticed Workethicless wearing a grin
"How is your backpack so unusually thin?"
"Simple," she replied with a smirk.
"When teachers give way too much work,"
"I just don't turn it in."

That frustrated Fatigua beyond belief
She decided to talk to her best advice-chief
Standing outside Counselor's House
She asked for Wiseadvice, quiet as a mouse
The warm, familiar smile gave her much relief

Fatigua sat on the edge of the couch
"Defeating these challenges is my only way out"
Wiseadvice agreed and told her with zest
To never give up and strive to do her best
"But is it okay if I feel like a grouch?"

"Of course!" Wiseadvice gently said
Fatigua left the house with a clearer head
She refused to be lazy like Workethicless
Accepted her faults and weaknesses
And promised herself to try harder instead

The hard times of school stayed strong, however
Fatigua found it still tough to endeavor
Fighting to stay on top and get all A's
Bantered by the pressure to get good grades
She sometimes thought she would graduate never

Fleeing home to her castle proved to be no escape
Opening the fridge to grab a grape
She entered her haven, her quarters a mess
Breathless and exhausted, nonetheless
Was off season helping to get her into shape?

Queen Neatfreak burst into the room
Holding her signature dustpan and broom
"After your homework, you know what to do!"
On her way out, she tripped on a shoe
Outside the gates, they heard a faint vroom

"Your sister's home!" Fatigua couldn't wait
To exchange stories of burdens so great
The college student bounded happily in
"Hi sis!" They bugged and went down to the den
Fatigua asked, "So how is life, No-time-to-date?"

Her sister threw back her head, laughing heartily
"I have long since changed my name, you see.
'Lifes-a-breeze' is to what I reply!
And I guess you'll want to know why...
Well, compared to high school, college is easy!"

Redness crept into Fatigua's cheek
That really topped off her week
How long did high school have to last?
Why couldn't she also have a blast?
Off to bed she decided to sneak

After spring break, Fatigua knew
Exactly what she had to do
The Hill of Difficulty to climb
In a mere six weeks of time
Instead of fast, her burden slowly grew

Finally her back felt light
Because she had the end in sight
Though completing assignments was a chore
She ignored how she felt tired and sore
Not giving in without a good fight

Apolygon, teacher of arithmetic,
Paced the classroom gripping a stick
Willing to wham it on the table
Of a sleepy student no longer able
To stay awake and watch his pointy tail flick

Afraid of him but not his test,
Fatigua stood out above the rest
Of each concept she reigned as master
Weeks passed by all the faster
Until her math grade became the best

Through the mail Fatigua did sort
Until she pulled out her progress report
Ripping it open she jumped with glee
Seeing all A's as straight as can be
"Wow..." was her family's only retort

Rewarding herself, Fatigua decided to go
Out with her pals three nights in a row! Careless and stubborn she suddenly grew
Refusing to complete her chores, too!
In off-season, her running became slow

"Balancing my time is what I should learn,
Then a College City entrance will I truly earn."
She climbed wearily into her Enchanted Bed
Rolling over, of course, before laying her head
The inner spark to master schoolwork now began to burn

Her brain fried, all studied out
She took her finals without a doubt
To do the absolute best she could
So hopefully she would
Finish strong with no reason to pout

The day arried, long awaited
People came to whom she was related
The valedictorian received her white robe
The most victorious person on the globe
When her backpack fell off, she felt elated

Her dreary heart now filled with glee
She looked at the audience, surprised to see
Apolygon and Beelzebub, clapping with a smile
They weren't so evil after all this while!
Her inner struggles defeated completely

Humbly, she accepted her gold scroll
Finally acheiving her goal
Freshstart, her pick for a new name
(Always thought Fatigua sounded lame)
Naming her friends became her new role

So Gladgrad and Collegebound
Snuck from the ceremony without a sound
Dragging all the backpacks of the past
To the Slough of Despond, throwing them in fast
Where they watched them sink past the ground