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The Olaf Messenger

The Student News Site of St. Olaf College

The Olaf Messenger

The Olaf Messenger

Halloween

Julia Sikorski Roehsner, Illustrator/Photographer October 23, 2024

“No fair, you got more candy than me!” “Trade you two Kit Kats for a peanut butter cup.” “No way.” Shouts and laughter drifted on the night air under a full, bright moon. A Vampire ran...

Courtesy of pixabay

Third-Wave

Olivia Hebblewhite April 20, 2023

I don’t want to get into it, but irrelevant conversation can be one of the most friendship-building and love-sustaining experiences. And it starts with nonsense. Let me take you on a tangent. There’s...

Illustration by Kenzie Todd/The Olaf Messenger

Variety Mutually Assured Destruction

Emily Fickenscher April 20, 2023

The best week of my life happened just after I learned that the mountain by my house was a volcano.   I woke up every morning, and I was so convinced that any day now, it would reduce everything...

Illustration by Kenzie Todd '22

Floorwork

Olivia Hebblewhite March 23, 2023

It is 5:15 a.m. I’m lying on the dining room floor of my friend’s house. A heating pad stretches across my stomach as I shiver, grateful I packed it at the last minute. The only times I remember being...

Illustration by Kenzie Todd '22

The Blizzard

Annie Stefanko March 9, 2023

I stand outside in the open as the snow comes roaring down on my face. It’s dark outside and there is a small street light above me. All I see are layers of snow for miles and miles, not a person or...

Enough Already

Enough Already

Manitou Messenger March 9, 2023

I knew I was too much in ninth grade. Mr. Stenz drew clownish, red lines across my essays. I learned bodily cleanliness. The purity of tendus. Over and over and over again. My teachers told me to cut...

Illustration by Kenzie Todd/The Olaf Messenger

Fall Leaves

Kaidera October 20, 2022

“Today of all the days so far is the nicest,” said one of the men. “How so?” said the other. “The leaves, it’s perfect today,” said the first man as the wind gave a small draft cooling their...

Illustration by Kenzie Todd/The Olaf Messenger

New Beginnings

Kaidera October 20, 2022

That blaring sound again, never really knew how to describe the sound, but everyone knows the sound in their own way. Always needed when we need to wake up for something important, or I guess something...

Microfiction: Roulette

Microfiction: Roulette

Lance Halberg March 11, 2022

I promised her I wouldn’t cry on our wedding night, so it was funny when I did. Same went for the night Charlie was born. Then Samantha. Soon I was hopeless—any graduation and every Christmas morning....

A Summer's Dream

A Summer’s Dream

Keely Spens March 3, 2022

I’d spent the night at the family house, waking up to tangled sheets and dripping in sunlight. It was bright for sleepy eyes, warm for my body, and slowed time down to the consistency of honey. I woke...

The Best Part of Lunch

The Best Part of Lunch

Zoe Miller December 10, 2021

“Charlie! Did you get any today?” I held up my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He grinned, showing me his turkey melt. We scarfed them down, leaving the best part for last. The wax paper. I stuffed...

Illustration by Sadie Favour

False Alarm

Lance Halberg September 30, 2021

“Pull the switch,” they were saying while I stared at it. It was the switch for the fire alarm. “Benny Martinez did it and he was okay.” Yes but Benny Martinez also gets to school late and the...

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