[Zotar]

My assingment for English class was to write a letter to one of the local papers in our town. I decided to attack an issue thats been bothering us younger folks for a while now, BORDUM. I proposed a place for the young people to spend some time safely. I need to know what you guys think. You guys are masters at debating after all. LaPine is the name of my hometown by the way. It is became an official city a year ago. THe youngest in the state of Oregon.

Ahem...

A Place to Waste

LaPine needs a safe place for Teens to hang out and do something with their pent-up energy. There simply aren’t enough places for us to go. The Park is no fun and people don’t appreciate us loitering at restaurants and shops. Where to then? How about the Public Library? Sure, there are computers with internet access, snazzy lounge chairs and lots of room. (Also books though many of us fail to notice them.) What more could we want? Well we can’t always promise to behave in a public Library.

We need more than just a good place to hang out. WE need a place to vent our energy and have fun. After all, we aren’t quite adults yet. Where then shall we go?

A skate park! Always a novel idea, yet not the safest thing for our quaint little town. An athletic club? Great… if you’re an athletic type. The woods… eh… well… kids can get away with an awful lot out there so no. A shopping mall! Those places are fun, until they start kicking out the more rambunctious teens, and not all boys like to shop.

Hmm… how about an Arcade? I like that one. A place where Teens can kill time and hang-out. A place that WE pay for two bits at a time. Location? No problem! Just put an Arcade within convenient walking distance of the school(s). Crime? Well… that’s the real problem with the more rambunctious Teens. One could place the Arcade within arm’s reach of a police station. That way; Teens would be better inclined to behave. Or, one could hire an officer to “steak-out” the place. But that would cost money of course.

That is the other matter, money. Who would pay for an arcade? I would, if I had some money. I’m sure anyone would. I even bet the fledgling LaPine City Council will pay this letter an eye and an ear, if not a left hand. But someone will.

An Arcade is not a very constructive place you say? Hey, at least we won’t be destructive. Kids need exercise? Hah! Most arcades are equipped with Dance, Dance Revolution. Videogames are not just for the lazy anymore.

The point is, we Teens are not naturally rambunctious, we’re just bored. We have too much energy. We need a positive and safe outlet, a place to waste our excess energy without harming others or ourselves. An arcade may not be the most constructive place, but it’s better than loitering at shops or restaurants.

-Michael Lytle