One day Rose went to Grapesparkle's little house. As best fairy friends they had their backpacks all packed and they were all ready to go to the Forest of Frizz.
They waved goodbye to Grapesparkle's mum and off they flew to the Forest of Frizz.
Meanwhile there was this strange looking house with some windows and a door on a bush. The person who lived inside was...
The Tickle Monster, having his breakfast (which was a banana, his favourite fruit) and a cup of dandelion tea... yum, yum...
Rose Fairy and Grapesparkle Fairy arrived at the Forest of Frizz but then, oh no, it started to rain. But luckily Rose was prepared and brought an umbrella.
They walked through the forest and saw the Tickle Monster's house but they didn't know it was his house.
Suddenly the door opened. The Tickle Monster jumped out and said "tickle time" and started tickling the two fairies. They got a big surprise.
The Tickle Monster invited them inside for lunch.
The Tickle Monster served them bananas, blueberries and grapes, followed by radish and beetroot soup, but they didn't really know if they'd like it.
Rose tried hers with salt but it tasted disgusting because obviously fruit does not taste good with salt.
The Tickle Monster wanted to look smart so he put on his top hat.
Rose had an idea to give the Tickle Monster a present, but what will it be? A picture of the Queen of the ABC's.
Then they went to the garden to pick some vegetables.
The Tickle Monster with his smart top hat came out of the kitchen into the lounge room with some floaty fluff cakes for everyone.
Then they waved goodbye to the Tickle Monster and flew back home.
The end.
Showing posts with label the winners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the winners. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Friday, October 30, 2015
and the winners are...
As always it was a tough decision for the judges, but here are the winners of the Spring school holiday 2015 writing competition... (if you need a reminder of the words that needed to be included you can find them here...)
Category 1 : 7-8 years
- Erian, winner - "Puffy and the cupcakes"
- Charlie, runner-up - "The Cupcake Princess"
Category 2 : 9-10 years
- Agnes, winner - "The story of Princess Natalie and her kingdom"
- Sam, runner-up - "The Adventures of Feather Man"
Category 3 : 11-12 years
- Alex, winner - "Shadow of the light"
- Melisand, runner-up - "The Icing on the cupcake"
Congratulations to everyone!!
The Adventures of Feather Man ... by Sam
There was once a feather, who wanted to be more than what he was. A feather. So after years of training he came out of the pillow and set off to travel the world (the house). Of course once he got out he was faced with problems, but one thing he did not know was that he was actually royalty and his relative was the King of all Feathers in Port Melbourne. He was going to outer space (outside) and was so close to making it but he was sucked up by the vacuum...
Feather man was trapped in the vacuum cleaner... "How do I get out of here?" he thought. He looked around, there was more than one feather in this vacuum cleaner, it was like a refugee camp but worse, a lot worse. Feather man was not going to give up that easily so he got all the feathers' attention and gave an inspirational speech. "Are you guys just going to wait here for someone to get you out? Or are you going to get out and live your life?" He waited for a moment and then somebody shouted "We were waiting for someone like you". The crowd nodded. "Argh whatever!" feather man said as he started climbing up the vacuum tube. When he was finally out he jumped and started gliding for about 3 seconds and then a dog ate him... yep a dog...and there was also a cat prowling behind him.
Inside the dog's belly, feather man was sitting down and then he stood up angrily and shouted to himself, "OH COME ON REALLY... first the vacuum and now this". He looked around and saw two feathers playing poker. He took a seat and asked curiously "How long have you been here?" the two feathers didn't look up for 5 whole minutes. When they did one said gloomily "Ten years I reckon... and by the way the dog's name is Buster, he is an English Staffy". Feather man looked up and said, "I've heard horror stories about that dog! Why haven't you left? You could just go down the hatch..." the feathers looked at feather man very alarmed and both shouted "NO!!" Feather man understood why they said that, but he knew he had to do it, so he suffered the horror and was out.
Feather man needed to shower. He glided for several days meeting new friends along the way. Finally he came to the great shower. He needed to turn the tap on, but he wasn't strong enough. Suddenly he heard a low growl. Feather man spun around to see Buster outside the shower ready to attack! Feather man had an idea - if he could get Buster to jump at the shower tap and turn it on he would have his shower. When Buster attacked he failed badly, he just ran with a surprising rhythm and speed and slammed right into the shower door. Man, that fat dog could run, he was like a lightening bolt. Feather man had been doing a lot of intense training and jumped right over Buster like a calm relaxed angel (an angel dripping with sweat). Buster came at him again and feather man was struck down to the ground and hard. He pulled out his trusty boomerang, throwing it at the shower tap it turned on - toe biting cold water slammed down on Buster and that fat dog was out. Feather man caught his boomerang and laughed to himself as nice cold water poured down on him. He got out of the shower and saw a little (massive to him) curious drooling 3 year old staring down at him. "OH NO"
He had a small head start and was sprinting with the toddler right behind him. The toddler had a half-eaten, licked chocolate cupcake in his hand. For the toddler this was a playful game but for feather man this was a matter of life or death. He made it into the toddler’s room and hid under the bed. He spied a motorbike and a hot wheels track and hopped onto the motorbike and rocketed down the track. The toddler did not have a clue what was going on, but that didn't stop him from racing after the motorbike. Feather man was near the end of the track and skidded to a halt. He had escaped the toddler but not the walls and crashed right into one while he was looking back and laughing.
Feather man hopped out of the crashed car. Needing supplies he went back into the kids’ room and found military clothes his size and a remote control plane that shot little pellets. He was ready! His first target was the shower and he fired heaps of bullets. The shower recovered quickly and fired the coldest water it had. Feather man jumped out of the plane hitting the tap off (don't ask me how it turned on in the first place) and the shower fell to the ground. Next was the toddler. He was easy, just fire a few pellets and he was off crying and running away. Next, the vacuum cleaner. He jumped out and was sucked in, but that was his plan! Inside he saw the other feathers were still there. "Come on my brothers we can destroy this!” This time he heard a massive cheer and they all got out of the vacuum and attacked it except some stupid feather named Hiccup went to the front and tried to tame it. He got sucked in but crashed the vacuum. After the battle the feathers returned home (apart from that guy called Hiccup), only the dog and feather man were left standing. Feather man took off his military clothes and looked like a plain old feather. Buster ran at him and feather man knew it was the end. He would never start his new journey and so he closed his eyes and waited but nothing happened. He opened his eyes to get a nice warm lick from Buster. Buster had let feather man go! He hugged the dog and floated out the door and into space (the world).
Disclaimer: Nothing was harmed in this story apart from some feather who crashed a plane into a vacuum cleaner.
Feather man was trapped in the vacuum cleaner... "How do I get out of here?" he thought. He looked around, there was more than one feather in this vacuum cleaner, it was like a refugee camp but worse, a lot worse. Feather man was not going to give up that easily so he got all the feathers' attention and gave an inspirational speech. "Are you guys just going to wait here for someone to get you out? Or are you going to get out and live your life?" He waited for a moment and then somebody shouted "We were waiting for someone like you". The crowd nodded. "Argh whatever!" feather man said as he started climbing up the vacuum tube. When he was finally out he jumped and started gliding for about 3 seconds and then a dog ate him... yep a dog...and there was also a cat prowling behind him.
Inside the dog's belly, feather man was sitting down and then he stood up angrily and shouted to himself, "OH COME ON REALLY... first the vacuum and now this". He looked around and saw two feathers playing poker. He took a seat and asked curiously "How long have you been here?" the two feathers didn't look up for 5 whole minutes. When they did one said gloomily "Ten years I reckon... and by the way the dog's name is Buster, he is an English Staffy". Feather man looked up and said, "I've heard horror stories about that dog! Why haven't you left? You could just go down the hatch..." the feathers looked at feather man very alarmed and both shouted "NO!!" Feather man understood why they said that, but he knew he had to do it, so he suffered the horror and was out.
Feather man needed to shower. He glided for several days meeting new friends along the way. Finally he came to the great shower. He needed to turn the tap on, but he wasn't strong enough. Suddenly he heard a low growl. Feather man spun around to see Buster outside the shower ready to attack! Feather man had an idea - if he could get Buster to jump at the shower tap and turn it on he would have his shower. When Buster attacked he failed badly, he just ran with a surprising rhythm and speed and slammed right into the shower door. Man, that fat dog could run, he was like a lightening bolt. Feather man had been doing a lot of intense training and jumped right over Buster like a calm relaxed angel (an angel dripping with sweat). Buster came at him again and feather man was struck down to the ground and hard. He pulled out his trusty boomerang, throwing it at the shower tap it turned on - toe biting cold water slammed down on Buster and that fat dog was out. Feather man caught his boomerang and laughed to himself as nice cold water poured down on him. He got out of the shower and saw a little (massive to him) curious drooling 3 year old staring down at him. "OH NO"
He had a small head start and was sprinting with the toddler right behind him. The toddler had a half-eaten, licked chocolate cupcake in his hand. For the toddler this was a playful game but for feather man this was a matter of life or death. He made it into the toddler’s room and hid under the bed. He spied a motorbike and a hot wheels track and hopped onto the motorbike and rocketed down the track. The toddler did not have a clue what was going on, but that didn't stop him from racing after the motorbike. Feather man was near the end of the track and skidded to a halt. He had escaped the toddler but not the walls and crashed right into one while he was looking back and laughing.
Feather man hopped out of the crashed car. Needing supplies he went back into the kids’ room and found military clothes his size and a remote control plane that shot little pellets. He was ready! His first target was the shower and he fired heaps of bullets. The shower recovered quickly and fired the coldest water it had. Feather man jumped out of the plane hitting the tap off (don't ask me how it turned on in the first place) and the shower fell to the ground. Next was the toddler. He was easy, just fire a few pellets and he was off crying and running away. Next, the vacuum cleaner. He jumped out and was sucked in, but that was his plan! Inside he saw the other feathers were still there. "Come on my brothers we can destroy this!” This time he heard a massive cheer and they all got out of the vacuum and attacked it except some stupid feather named Hiccup went to the front and tried to tame it. He got sucked in but crashed the vacuum. After the battle the feathers returned home (apart from that guy called Hiccup), only the dog and feather man were left standing. Feather man took off his military clothes and looked like a plain old feather. Buster ran at him and feather man knew it was the end. He would never start his new journey and so he closed his eyes and waited but nothing happened. He opened his eyes to get a nice warm lick from Buster. Buster had let feather man go! He hugged the dog and floated out the door and into space (the world).
Disclaimer: Nothing was harmed in this story apart from some feather who crashed a plane into a vacuum cleaner.
The icing on the cupcake ... by Melisand
Picture this: a peaceful country village with thatched cottages lining the cobblestone streets, the respectful townspeople going about their business in a friendly and cheerful way. Presumably, you think that the citizens are human but they are not, they're Patty Pan People. Patty Pan People are just like us from the neck down but their heads are cupcakes, their faces are made of lollies and their hair is cream cheese icing. Their - or what we call a - brain is the soft, fluffy sponge cake in the middle, which could explain the events in this story...
The story begins on the night of the annual Squashing Scream, a few years ago. Every year one Patty Pan Person is deprived of their hair by the evil were-cat which haunts the village on the night of the Squashing Scream.
Quentin wished her friends a happy Squashing Scream and walked home from her job at the hair-salon just as the sun was setting. In her joyful frame of mind she forgot to hang up her Philadelphia cream cheese packets to ward off the cat. Consequently, as she got ready for bed the cat lurked stealthily around her house waiting for her to fall asleep.
"Ooh, what an awful dream I had last night," said Quentin to her pet Guinea Pig when she woke the next morning. "I dreamt that this year the evil were-cat came and licked MY hair off ... and ate my sprinkle decoration!"
"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" squeaked her Guinea Pig frantically ... but not understanding she went downstairs to get ready.
After her breakfast she put on her favourite outfit and twirled around in front of the mirror...
"Aaaah!" she screamed, "my hair is gone! It wasn't a dream! I was the victim of the Squashing Scream Were-cat!" and she burst into uncontrollable tears.
Quite a while later after she had regained her composure she decided that she would go to the hair-salon and get some hair extensions before work. Feeling much happier, she headed off to work.
Everyone at the hair-salon felt very sorry for her and even offered to do her hair extensions for free. But when they went to get the cream cheese icing they found, to their dismay, that they had run out! Quentin's friend Maria telephoned the Icing Factory but they didn't have any either.
"Maybe the cat was still starving after it licked my hair so it went to the factory for more icing," suggested Quentin, but no one thought that likely.
Dolefully Quentin took up her position behind the counter at reception and thought about how she could get some more hair.
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed Quentin around noon. "I'll go and pay Mixer Morris a visit at the factory," and that she did.
Unfortunately for Quentin, the people on the bus weren't as sympathetic as the hairdressers. She was only on the first step when the bus driver grumbled "Get off me bus! Where's ya hair? Being seen in public without ya hair is a disgrace! Get off me bus!"
Then the passengers chimed in "It's a disgrace, A DISGRACE..." they agreed.
"You know how it was the Squashing Scream last night" said one, "I bet her hair was taken then!"
"She might still be haunted by the were-cat," offered another.
"Get off me bus!" the grouchy bus driver snarled.
So poor Quentin had a long, and embarrassing, walk to the icing factory which was on the outskirts of town.
Eventually Quentin arrived at the factory but as soon as she opened the door she knew something was wrong.
CLUG CLUG EEEEEEEK! CLUG EEK EEK EEK RUMBLE RUMBLE! CLUG CLUG EEEEEEEK!
"What funny noises the machines are making," Quentin muttered to herself. "I'd better investigate!"
She peered around the gloomy factory, when she saw Mixer Morris she knew something was wrong with him too.
"Hello... Qqqquentin," he stuttered, "I ccan't ... do anything at a ccccconsistent rate. Cccan you ... please help ... me and the mmmachines?"
"Sure and I think I know what the problem is; you've lost your rhythm! If I help you to get your rhythm back you could stir the main whisk. The other machines could follow you and hey presto everyone is in time again!" Quentin enthusiastically replied, "let's start straight away!"
But unfortunately this was easier said than done.
Morris and Quentin thought hard.
"What about," suggested Morris "I learn a rhythmical dance and stir to it?"
"Good idea, I'll teach you a foxtrot. Slow quick quick, slow quick quick. See, easy" demonstrated Quentin, dancing around the machines.
Morris finally got the hang of the very basic rhythm!
"Gosh Quentin that was difficult, my spongy brain couldn't keep up!"
Quentin crossed her fingers as Morris nervously walked over to the main mixer and grabbed hold of the whisk. Heaving really hard, Morris got the whisk moving to his rhythm. Slowly the other machines joined in too; going from eek eek rumble clug clug to rumble clug clug (slow quick quick) rumble clug clug (slow quick quick).
As Morris let go of the mixer he gave a sigh of relief.
"Oh Quentin! Thank you so so much. You have saved my factory and helped all the hair-salons and their hairdressers in all the nearby towns. I cannot express how grateful I am in words ... but please accept this gift card for your hair salon as a token of my gratitude. Your help has meant more to me than being visited by Patty Pan royalty. Thank you!"
"Before I go there is something that you can do for me in return. Do you have any spare icing that I can use for my hair temporarily, so that I can get a bus ride home? It's getting quite late."
"I would like to say yes but all I can offer you is some of my hair!" and he wiped some of his own hay coloured hair onto Quentin's head in a rather bedraggled arrangement.
"I'm very sorry that my hairstyling skills are incompetent but it should serve the purpose," he apologised.
"It doesn't bother me at all and I am very appreciative of your help. Thank you and I hope to see you tomorrow with the delivery!"
The next morning Quentin skipped happily into work. She handed over the gift card and explained her story from the day before. Shortly after she finished speaking, ding, dong! the doorbell rang. "That'll be Mixer Morris with our cream cheese icing" said Quentin running excitedly towards the door.
"Aaah, Quentin, just the person I was hoping to see" started Morris, "I have enclosed a small amount of emerald dye with the icing delivery. I thought the colour would look nice in your new hairstyle!"
"Why thank you Morris. I love the colour! I shall be today's first customer!" said Quentin with a blush.
At the end of the day she emerged from the salon with a beautifully stylish emerald green swirl and a grin on her face. She was so pleased that she had her hair back. That evening she promised her pet Guinea Pig she would never forget to hang up her Philadelphia packets on the night of the Squashing Scream again...
The story begins on the night of the annual Squashing Scream, a few years ago. Every year one Patty Pan Person is deprived of their hair by the evil were-cat which haunts the village on the night of the Squashing Scream.
Quentin wished her friends a happy Squashing Scream and walked home from her job at the hair-salon just as the sun was setting. In her joyful frame of mind she forgot to hang up her Philadelphia cream cheese packets to ward off the cat. Consequently, as she got ready for bed the cat lurked stealthily around her house waiting for her to fall asleep.
"Ooh, what an awful dream I had last night," said Quentin to her pet Guinea Pig when she woke the next morning. "I dreamt that this year the evil were-cat came and licked MY hair off ... and ate my sprinkle decoration!"
"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" squeaked her Guinea Pig frantically ... but not understanding she went downstairs to get ready.
After her breakfast she put on her favourite outfit and twirled around in front of the mirror...
"Aaaah!" she screamed, "my hair is gone! It wasn't a dream! I was the victim of the Squashing Scream Were-cat!" and she burst into uncontrollable tears.
Quite a while later after she had regained her composure she decided that she would go to the hair-salon and get some hair extensions before work. Feeling much happier, she headed off to work.
Everyone at the hair-salon felt very sorry for her and even offered to do her hair extensions for free. But when they went to get the cream cheese icing they found, to their dismay, that they had run out! Quentin's friend Maria telephoned the Icing Factory but they didn't have any either.
"Maybe the cat was still starving after it licked my hair so it went to the factory for more icing," suggested Quentin, but no one thought that likely.
Dolefully Quentin took up her position behind the counter at reception and thought about how she could get some more hair.
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed Quentin around noon. "I'll go and pay Mixer Morris a visit at the factory," and that she did.
Unfortunately for Quentin, the people on the bus weren't as sympathetic as the hairdressers. She was only on the first step when the bus driver grumbled "Get off me bus! Where's ya hair? Being seen in public without ya hair is a disgrace! Get off me bus!"
Then the passengers chimed in "It's a disgrace, A DISGRACE..." they agreed.
"You know how it was the Squashing Scream last night" said one, "I bet her hair was taken then!"
"She might still be haunted by the were-cat," offered another.
"Get off me bus!" the grouchy bus driver snarled.
So poor Quentin had a long, and embarrassing, walk to the icing factory which was on the outskirts of town.
Eventually Quentin arrived at the factory but as soon as she opened the door she knew something was wrong.
CLUG CLUG EEEEEEEK! CLUG EEK EEK EEK RUMBLE RUMBLE! CLUG CLUG EEEEEEEK!
"What funny noises the machines are making," Quentin muttered to herself. "I'd better investigate!"
She peered around the gloomy factory, when she saw Mixer Morris she knew something was wrong with him too.
"Hello... Qqqquentin," he stuttered, "I ccan't ... do anything at a ccccconsistent rate. Cccan you ... please help ... me and the mmmachines?"
"Sure and I think I know what the problem is; you've lost your rhythm! If I help you to get your rhythm back you could stir the main whisk. The other machines could follow you and hey presto everyone is in time again!" Quentin enthusiastically replied, "let's start straight away!"
But unfortunately this was easier said than done.
Morris and Quentin thought hard.
"What about," suggested Morris "I learn a rhythmical dance and stir to it?"
"Good idea, I'll teach you a foxtrot. Slow quick quick, slow quick quick. See, easy" demonstrated Quentin, dancing around the machines.
Morris finally got the hang of the very basic rhythm!
"Gosh Quentin that was difficult, my spongy brain couldn't keep up!"
Quentin crossed her fingers as Morris nervously walked over to the main mixer and grabbed hold of the whisk. Heaving really hard, Morris got the whisk moving to his rhythm. Slowly the other machines joined in too; going from eek eek rumble clug clug to rumble clug clug (slow quick quick) rumble clug clug (slow quick quick).
As Morris let go of the mixer he gave a sigh of relief.
"Oh Quentin! Thank you so so much. You have saved my factory and helped all the hair-salons and their hairdressers in all the nearby towns. I cannot express how grateful I am in words ... but please accept this gift card for your hair salon as a token of my gratitude. Your help has meant more to me than being visited by Patty Pan royalty. Thank you!"
"Before I go there is something that you can do for me in return. Do you have any spare icing that I can use for my hair temporarily, so that I can get a bus ride home? It's getting quite late."
"I would like to say yes but all I can offer you is some of my hair!" and he wiped some of his own hay coloured hair onto Quentin's head in a rather bedraggled arrangement.
"I'm very sorry that my hairstyling skills are incompetent but it should serve the purpose," he apologised.
"It doesn't bother me at all and I am very appreciative of your help. Thank you and I hope to see you tomorrow with the delivery!"
The next morning Quentin skipped happily into work. She handed over the gift card and explained her story from the day before. Shortly after she finished speaking, ding, dong! the doorbell rang. "That'll be Mixer Morris with our cream cheese icing" said Quentin running excitedly towards the door.
"Aaah, Quentin, just the person I was hoping to see" started Morris, "I have enclosed a small amount of emerald dye with the icing delivery. I thought the colour would look nice in your new hairstyle!"
"Why thank you Morris. I love the colour! I shall be today's first customer!" said Quentin with a blush.
At the end of the day she emerged from the salon with a beautifully stylish emerald green swirl and a grin on her face. She was so pleased that she had her hair back. That evening she promised her pet Guinea Pig she would never forget to hang up her Philadelphia packets on the night of the Squashing Scream again...
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Minecraft World ... by Mikayla
I opened my eyes and I couldn’t believe what I saw, I was in Minecraft! It was a cold winter’s day, with snowflakes falling around me. I was happy and excited, I didn’t know what to do first. Minecraft was a very weird place. Everything, including me, was made of 3D blocks in all different colors. It was very strange to see myself made of 3D blocks…I knew what I had to do first, I needed to build a house to be safe from the monsters. I built with brick blocks, diamond blocks, and dirt blocks. It was fun to make but it took a long time and it was tiring, so I took a nap on the couch and went to sleep.
When I woke up I realised that I wasn’t in my house I was in somebody else’s house! I didn’t know whose house it was, so I panicked. Suddenly something even worse was happening, hundreds of little pom-poms were coming towards me. When they got very close I realised they were actually four-legged green monsters in disguise. I knew these monsters were called creepers because I have played Minecraft before. I also knew that creepers blow up when they get close to you. Before I knew it, one of the creepers had gotten close to me and then, BOOM, it blew up.
As the blast went off I felt myself falling through the air. I landed with a thump. I found myself in a very dark and quiet place. I was relieved I had survived the creepers blast and was safe from them but then I heard a scary noise. I didn’t know where it was coming from. I thought the place was a mine so I started to dig my way out. I wasn’t strong enough so I tried to find another way out. I asked myself ‘how did I get from my comfy bed to here?’ I closed my eyes and wished the magic that got me into Minecraft would get me out again. When I opened my eyes I was out of the mine but not Minecraft. I needed to find a way out of Minecraft and back home.
The winter’s air was getting colder and snowflakes had started to fall gently on my face. I was getting cold. I walked and walked until I found a strange box that was green and white. I thought it was called an end-portal. I climbed up on top of the portal and it transported me inside. The first thing I saw was a huge dragon! The dragon was purple and had very big wings, it was very scary. I walked back slowly, and said to myself ‘I shouldn’t have come in here’. The dragon came closer and closer until IT ATE ME!! I was inside a dragon…. it was not fun. I didn’t know how I could get out, it was dark and scary in there. Snowflakes had begun to fall on the dragon’s nose, just as he went to lick one off his nose I jumped right out of his open mouth. He was so big and I was so small that he didn’t even notice me jump out and creep away.
I didn’t know where I was, I knew I’d gone into the end-portal but what did that mean? I looked and looked but I couldn’t see anything so I walked until I found a little shop, inside was a big strong-looking man sleeping. He was snoring very loudly, and the shop was a mess. I accidentally stepped on one of the cereal boxes and the man woke up. He was very angry; he walked closer and closer until he was in front of me towering over me. He asked me if I wanted his shop because he didn’t want it anymore. I said “y..y..e..ee..sss” because I was scared, but I shouldn’t have because he told me I had to keep it. I didn’t want to own a shop, I wanted to get back into my comfy bed, but there was no escape now because he had locked me in. I shouted and screamed but no one could hear me, I tried again and again but still no one could hear me.
I pushed on the front door a thousand times and I finally got out, but the guy was still there so I had to stay hidden. After a few minutes he went away, but that meant I had to walk until I found something again and so that’s what I did. I found a small house that looked like the one I had built when I first entered Minecraft. It was mine! I walked inside and found another person inside. She was small and friendly, she asked me why I was in her house. I said to her that it wasn’t her house it was mine. She looked confused and wandered off.
After the girl left my house I realised she had put a crafting table inside. I went closer to it and touched it, just at that time I remembered that if you touch a crafting table you can make things. I made a sword with a stick and two oak wood planks. I was desperate to get out of Minecraft and back home. I didn’t know if it would work, but I tried to break my way out of Minecraft with my sword. I found a wall and I started to hit it with my sword, some of it broke but the rest didn’t. I wasn’t getting anywhere, I felt so frustrated that I sat down and started to cry. I always imagined that it would be so much fun to be in Minecraft, but it was just hard. I noticed snowflakes falling again, but this time they were sparkly and glimmering. I wondered if they were magic. I closed my eyes and made a wish, I had never wished that hard before.
I opened my eyes and I was in my very comfy bed at last. I looked out the window and saw snowflakes falling, but I couldn’t figure out if it had all been a dream or it had really happened. All I knew was that I was safe and I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to play Minecraft again.
THE END.
When I woke up I realised that I wasn’t in my house I was in somebody else’s house! I didn’t know whose house it was, so I panicked. Suddenly something even worse was happening, hundreds of little pom-poms were coming towards me. When they got very close I realised they were actually four-legged green monsters in disguise. I knew these monsters were called creepers because I have played Minecraft before. I also knew that creepers blow up when they get close to you. Before I knew it, one of the creepers had gotten close to me and then, BOOM, it blew up.
As the blast went off I felt myself falling through the air. I landed with a thump. I found myself in a very dark and quiet place. I was relieved I had survived the creepers blast and was safe from them but then I heard a scary noise. I didn’t know where it was coming from. I thought the place was a mine so I started to dig my way out. I wasn’t strong enough so I tried to find another way out. I asked myself ‘how did I get from my comfy bed to here?’ I closed my eyes and wished the magic that got me into Minecraft would get me out again. When I opened my eyes I was out of the mine but not Minecraft. I needed to find a way out of Minecraft and back home.
The winter’s air was getting colder and snowflakes had started to fall gently on my face. I was getting cold. I walked and walked until I found a strange box that was green and white. I thought it was called an end-portal. I climbed up on top of the portal and it transported me inside. The first thing I saw was a huge dragon! The dragon was purple and had very big wings, it was very scary. I walked back slowly, and said to myself ‘I shouldn’t have come in here’. The dragon came closer and closer until IT ATE ME!! I was inside a dragon…. it was not fun. I didn’t know how I could get out, it was dark and scary in there. Snowflakes had begun to fall on the dragon’s nose, just as he went to lick one off his nose I jumped right out of his open mouth. He was so big and I was so small that he didn’t even notice me jump out and creep away.
I didn’t know where I was, I knew I’d gone into the end-portal but what did that mean? I looked and looked but I couldn’t see anything so I walked until I found a little shop, inside was a big strong-looking man sleeping. He was snoring very loudly, and the shop was a mess. I accidentally stepped on one of the cereal boxes and the man woke up. He was very angry; he walked closer and closer until he was in front of me towering over me. He asked me if I wanted his shop because he didn’t want it anymore. I said “y..y..e..ee..sss” because I was scared, but I shouldn’t have because he told me I had to keep it. I didn’t want to own a shop, I wanted to get back into my comfy bed, but there was no escape now because he had locked me in. I shouted and screamed but no one could hear me, I tried again and again but still no one could hear me.
I pushed on the front door a thousand times and I finally got out, but the guy was still there so I had to stay hidden. After a few minutes he went away, but that meant I had to walk until I found something again and so that’s what I did. I found a small house that looked like the one I had built when I first entered Minecraft. It was mine! I walked inside and found another person inside. She was small and friendly, she asked me why I was in her house. I said to her that it wasn’t her house it was mine. She looked confused and wandered off.
After the girl left my house I realised she had put a crafting table inside. I went closer to it and touched it, just at that time I remembered that if you touch a crafting table you can make things. I made a sword with a stick and two oak wood planks. I was desperate to get out of Minecraft and back home. I didn’t know if it would work, but I tried to break my way out of Minecraft with my sword. I found a wall and I started to hit it with my sword, some of it broke but the rest didn’t. I wasn’t getting anywhere, I felt so frustrated that I sat down and started to cry. I always imagined that it would be so much fun to be in Minecraft, but it was just hard. I noticed snowflakes falling again, but this time they were sparkly and glimmering. I wondered if they were magic. I closed my eyes and made a wish, I had never wished that hard before.
I opened my eyes and I was in my very comfy bed at last. I looked out the window and saw snowflakes falling, but I couldn’t figure out if it had all been a dream or it had really happened. All I knew was that I was safe and I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to play Minecraft again.
THE END.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Winning entries...
Well, the judges have made their decision and chosen the 'winning entries' in our latest writing competition where you were asked to use 5 words - eyeballs, book, mud, monkey, driftwood - in a story with a maximum 1500 words. So, here they are:
Category 1 (7-8 years):
Winner:
- Skyla, aged 8 for "George and Phoebe's adventure"
- Daniel, aged 7 for "The jungle adventure"
Category 2 (9-10 years):
Winner:
- Ari, aged 10 for "But mum, I want it..."
- Melisand, aged 9 for "Dr Monkey and the case of the missing eyeballs"
Category 3 (11-12 years):
Winner:
- Annabelle, aged 11 for "Never chase a Dragyn"
- Lia, aged 12 for "The soul thief"
George and Phoebe's adventure ... by Skyla, aged 8
Ding a ling a ling a ling a ling a ling a ling a ling.
There was a fire practice in kinder. All the children were sent outside, even George and Phoebe, the four year old twins. Phoebe is a stubborn girl and doesn't want to be bossed around. George just follows Phoebe because they are best friends too.
Phoebe didn't like the loud noise, so she and George went to the furthest corner of the fence. They were playing hopscotch when George saw something that was unusual. He thought it looked like a colourful spiral.
George was too scared so Phoebe decided to have a look and suddently she felt like she was being vacuumed up. George was shocked and called out for her, but suddenly he got sucked in too.The twins felt like they were jumping out of an aeroplane without a parachute but in slow motion. They were nervous but a bit excited because they didn't know what was happening.
They landed softly like they had just fallen onto a nice comfy bed. They looked ahead and saw a mysterious jungle full of trees with moss and vines wrapped around. George froze and looked so shocked that Phoebe thought his eyeballs might fall out, but when Phoebe turned around she jumped up and down and was ready for adventure.
Phoebe was standing on a rock with George, but she realised she couldn't walk through the jungle because it was full of mud. "Hmm, what shall I do? Let's be action kids!" When George heard that he was excited and wanted to start the adventure. He had to swing like a monkey through the jungle because the floor was covered in mud. George jumped onto a branch and started to swing and swing and swing and this time Phoebe was following.
They got a bit tired and decided to hop onto another rock. They lay there for a few minutes and then they saw a rainbow so they started swinging again because in their favourite story book at the end of a rainbow there would be a pot of gold. But when they got to the end of the rainbow there was only a plain old lake with lots of wood floating on it.
George looked over the lake and the sun was going down so it looked beautiful. Suddenly he fell in. He couldn't swim but he grabbed onto a big piece of driftwood and Phoebe pulled him out. George was very cold and wet and shaken but luckily Phoebe saw another colourful spiral on the ground and they thought it would take them back to kinder, so the twins jumped in together.
This time they felt all dizzy and sleepy. Suddenly they popped out of the fence and they were playing hopscotch again.
Everyone was inside and the alarm wasn't going so they went inside and decided to make a book and draw all about their jungle adventure.
The jungle adventure ... by Daniel, aged 7
The tiger roared a big, loud roar. It woke me up as my pet monkey started to yawn.
From the roar, our driftwood wand shattered like old crumbly bone and mushy dirt flicked out which looked like mud.
As I put on my clothes, a faint green figure appeared in the moonlight. It had lots of eyeballs, green skin and lots of grey hair. As it moved closer and closer, its foot moved into the front door.
I ran to the back gate, picked up a book as a shield. I had to run up the hill and into the jungle. I noticed that writing was above his head saying "Constantine, destroyer of the world." He took out a big sword.
I saw a ghost up in the sky and it dropped a sword. I started a big fight as my monkey came and started biting his leg. While he was doing that, I called 000. A few minutes later, police came and took him to prison.
From the roar, our driftwood wand shattered like old crumbly bone and mushy dirt flicked out which looked like mud.
As I put on my clothes, a faint green figure appeared in the moonlight. It had lots of eyeballs, green skin and lots of grey hair. As it moved closer and closer, its foot moved into the front door.
I ran to the back gate, picked up a book as a shield. I had to run up the hill and into the jungle. I noticed that writing was above his head saying "Constantine, destroyer of the world." He took out a big sword.
I saw a ghost up in the sky and it dropped a sword. I started a big fight as my monkey came and started biting his leg. While he was doing that, I called 000. A few minutes later, police came and took him to prison.
But Mum, I want it... by Ari, aged 10
"But Mum, I want an iPhone 5S. It's 450 times faster than this piece of junk!"
George was looking down as his iPhone 5 that lay in his palm. His mum tried to explain that she was working three jobs and had no husband to help out with the bills but George didn't listen. "The iPhone 5S has eyeball-popping resolution and comes with 5GB of 5G. Do you know how fast the 5G is? It is the fastest data on the earth. You have to let me get one. All my friends are going to have one and I don't want to be left out."
The next day at school all of George's friends were playing a game called Eyeballs. It is a game on the iPhone 5S where you have to grab all the eyeballs before the timer ends. All the girls were listening to One Direction on their iPhones. George was the only person in school without and iPhone 5S.
"To me I am nothing without an iPhone 5S! The only thing in the world I want is an iPhone 5S." George said in a whiney, annoying voice to his exhausted mum.
Her eyes were bloodshot red. She sighed and surrendered. "We can go see the Apple store tomorrow after school."
"I can't wait till tomorrow! Now!"
"No, and I will not tolerate you talking to me in that manner."
"NO NO NO NO" George screeched in a high pitched voice and stamped off to his room ignoring his mother's hurt feelings.
The next day George was walking to the car on his way to the Apple shop to buy his iPhone 5S. He was so excited, he was jumping out of his shoes. His mum on the other hand was so stressed about her work that she forgot her keys in the house.
George was only thinking of the phone and was jumping around when suddenly he fell off the footpath into a wide sewage pipe which fell into a cave with a big Apple logo carved into the walls. George picked himself up and was unsure of his surroundings but was excited by the view of the Apple logo.
There were instructions on the wall for George. He understood that he needed to walk forward and do some sort of quest or challenge. It reminded him of a book he had read called Driftwood Danger. George carefully followed a passage and entered a huge pyramid shaped room which was warm and humid. Around the walls there were many doors leading to many rooms. George was excited and looked up at the point of the pyramid which was jagged and pointy. He thought that there must be an iPhone 5S inside there waiting for him.
George ventured into the first door he saw, hoping for the prize. He could see big puddles of mud in front of him. He realized this was his first assignment. He had to escape the thick and slimy mud without drowning. But George was also feeling nervous. There seemed to be someone watching. George could barely see who, but he was pretty sure it was a monkey or a chimpanzee. It was laughing at him and telling him to go home. George ignored it and concentrated on the task.
As he tried to get through the gooey mud he could see that the ground was slowly transforming into slime. It smelled terrible and felt awful but it was becoming easier to walk. George was beginning to wish he was back in the car, safe with his mum. He was frightened and not sure what would happen.
As George forced himself to move on, he entered a library full of books, or were they books? As George investigated he found that they were disguised as books but inside them were scrolls. As George started reading he found out all of Apple's secrets and future plans for the new devices. George suddenly felt a surge of power, "hahaha" he screamed.
As George left the library he entered another room with muddy brown water and he realized that the only way he could get through was by swimming. George thought "why not? There are no crocodiles and I'm getting closer to my prize." So George jumped in and started swimming.
It was freezing water. When George got out of the water he was shivering and saw on his arm a big slimy black leech sucking away at his blood. He took a torch off the wall and burnt it. "Ouch" George whimpered. Once recovered, George saw that he had two choices. He could go left or right.
As George considered his options, he realized right was always right, so he went right. He went through a narrow and long tunnel. It was dripping wet and was very slippery, but George was determined to find the iPhone 5S inside the pyramid.
As he went through the tunnel he saw that there was a maze of some kind. As George entered the maze he remembered, from his book, to keep to the left when doing a maze. That's exactly what George did and before he knew it he was at the exit. Now that George had completed this he went inside the first door and there it was, somewhat of a holy room, and in the middle was a huge podium and on it was an iPhone 5S. It must be the first because it had a huge #1 that was carved into the podium beneath it.
As George approached to take the phone he quickly snatched it and climbed up a ladder that he only just realized was on top of the podium. As George reached the top and outside his house, his mum was just coming back to the car with her keys. Her head was bent low and her feet were shuffling with pain and exhaustion.
George suddenly realized he had an iPhone 5S but at what cost? He put himself in great danger doing the challenges and he was prepared to sacrifice his family's finances and his mother's health.
George only then realized that he didn't even need an iPhone 5S - adventure was all around him and it was much more fun than a phone game. He saw his mother and was sorry for the way he had treated her. So George ended up throwing the phone back down the pipe for the next lucky adventurer.
Dr Monkey and the case of the missing eyeballs ... (as narrated) by Melisand, aged 9
"He he ha ha! I like your clown act Catapult, you're so good for a caterpillar!"
That's Giggle the Grasshopper chuckling at Catapult the Caterpillar. They are playing in the ivy garden near the mysterious mud baths. Let's see what they are going to do next...
"Come on Giggle!" called Catapult. "Let's have a look at the ooey, gooey mud baths..."
"OK Catapult, I'm coming!" shouted Giggle excitedly.
"... but don't fall in," warned Catapult. "You never know whether the mud baths are going to add or remove a body part!"
Look at them tumble and laugh their way toward the mud baths. Oh no! Giggle has just tripped over a magical blue and gold daffodil and fallen face first at the edge of one of the baths. A magical daffodil can only mean one thing and that is probably what poor Giggle is going to get... BAD LUCK!
"Help me!" screamed Giggle, "I'm going to slide into the mud... I can't seem to pick myself up. Help!"
Splosh! Unfortunately Giggle has landed in a deep and disgustingly sticky mud bath... and he has discovered something terrible...
"I can't see! I can't see!" Giggle cried in panic.
"Oh dear, I think it's because you're missing your eyeballs..."
"My eyeballs! Of all the body parts to lose, why does it have to be my eyeballs? How can a grasshopper see without eyeballs?"
"I don't know... you can't," replied Catapult sadly. "There is only one thing to do, ask Dr Monkey."
"Yes, yes! Pleeeease Catapult, fetch Dr Monkey, he'll know what to do. Pleeeease," pleaded Giggle.
Soon Catapult returns with Dr Monkey, puffing from the speed he has run (or more like rolled actually). Giggle is staring blindly at the world around him, full of sorrow for the first time in his life.
"Dr Monkey, can you help me?" asked Giggle hopefully.
"Well... I might be able to..." Dr Monkey replied, a bit unsure himself.
"Does that mean yes?" questioned Giggle eagerly.
"Yes I suppose it does," answered Dr Monkey a little gruffly. "But it will be a difficult mission to get your eyeballs back, and I will need a companion."
"I'll do it!" Catapult immediately and gleefully volunteered. "Anything for my best friend."
"OK. That settles that then. Will you be alright here until we get back Giggle?" asked Dr Monkey.
"I suppose I will," Giggle replied mournfully.
Look, Dr Monkey and Catapult are in a secret hiding spot that only Dr Monkey (and now Catapult) knows about. They don't want anyone to hear their plan. Shhhh, let's listen...
"Now here's my plan," Dr Monkey explained in a whisper. "First we'll go to the Fern Library to find the information we need. You can assist me by taking notes. Then we'll head off to where the book tells us to go and we'll find the things the book says we'll need to get Giggle's eyeballs back."
Here they are inside the cosy Fern Library, Dr Monkey and his companion are searching through the reference books on the human body to find the book they need...
"Just what we need!" they cried in unison. "The Book!"
Poring over the book, they discuss and take notes until they reach a decision...
"We will have to go to Dragon Bay," said Dr Monkey, "and find a piece of driftwood in the shape of the missing body part."
"A piece of driftwood in the shape of... eyeballs?" queried Catapult.
"Of course, eyeballs! Off we go..."
Dr Monkey and Catapult have reached their destination and begin their search. Dr Monkey has decided that Catapult should search higher up the sandy beach and that he will search closer to the water. While they search, imagine Dragon Bay... inland it is full of lush, green grass and brightly coloured flowers. Great oak trees tower over the fields. The water is crystal clear with a tinge of blue. The beach is covered in smooth white sand and shaded by a canopy of palm trees. There are shells of many colours and shapes to be found. Let us check on Dr Monkey and Catapult...
"I'm not having much luck," complained Dr Monkey. "Perhaps Catapult is having more luck further up the beach?"
Catapult has dug a hole into the rich soil and found a small stream. Having seen shells and driftwood floating in there, he has made a net of flower stems and is catching the driftwood and sorting it.
"Yippee!" he shouted. "I've found it. I've found the piece of driftwood we need."
Soon Dr Monkey comes running...
"Well done Catapult," he exclaimed. "We had better get back to Giggle as soon as possible."
They quickly arrive back at the mud baths where poor Giggle is still trying to see without his eyeballs but failing hopelessly.
"Take the piece of driftwood you found Catapult and rub it over the place where the body part is missing from," instructed Dr Monkey. "The book says that the body part will come bac..."
"That is exactly what is happening," interrupted Catapult. "Look!"
Giggle is very curious about what has happened on Dr Monkey and Catapult's adventure and insists that they tell him their fascinating story. He is most impressed... and Dr Monkey and Catapult are feeling very pleased with themselves.
Now they are playing a game of I SPY...
Never chase a Dragyn ... by Annabelle, aged 11
Music roared around the tavern, everyone yelling at the top of their voices. But in one quiet corner sat a boy who was staring at the moonlit forest, oblivious to the racket around him.
The barman stared around the room. In the corner was someone who looked like he needed cheering up. Abandoning the glass he was polishing, the barman wove around the many tables between him and the boy.
The barman stood still for a moment, admiring the view. "Do yer want to hear a story?" he said finally. The boy grunted affirmation.
"Well, a few days ago I was runnin' the tavern like now, when I looked out of the window." He gestured towards the trees.
"And guess what I saw? A great darn dragyn*! Yer shoulda seen me eyeballs. Wide as plates. I'm sure yer know what they do to buildings, burnin' em an' all, so to stop me tavern goin' up in flames I grabbed me crossbow, picked up some arrows, donned me boots and set out on a hunt."
"When I reached the forest the dragyn was gone, but its tracks showed clearly in the snow so I followed them. Several times I saw the dragyn in the distance, but never up close. It led me through some difficult terrain and me boots were soon covered in mud. Some time around midnight the dragyn tried to fly away. It landed sharpish when I put an arrow through one of its wings. Crossbows sure come in handy! I lost it at the edge of a small village, so I went to tell a policeman about the threat. When I got into a police station though, a policeman was talking to a young girl with black hair and blue eyes. She reminded me of the dragyn. I stood there for a minute, watching a caged monkey being lifted into a van that said ZOO."
"Finally the policeman turned to me and asked me, in a grave voice, if I really had been chasing the little girl through the forest with a crossbow. I told him I had been chasing a dragyn through the forest, not a girl, but he just gave me a look that said, 'I don't believe you.' So I left and trudged back 'ere before he could gimme a fine."
The boy gave him a round of applause and the barman grinned happily and bowed. "You should write a book about that!" smiled the boy.
"I'm pleased you think so. Me friends have always said I was bad at storytelling, but I thought otherwise. Now I know I was right!"
The boy looked out of the window again, thinking how strange it was that just a few days ago a dragyn was hiding in those shadows. He could almost imagine its blue eyes glowing and its wings spreading... Hang on! There was a dragyn there! And it did not look happy.
The boy nudged the barman and pointed. The barman raised one hand to his mouth, the other hand grasping an ornamental crossbow hanging on the wall.
The dragyn grinned. "Too late" it mouthed. The jet of fire sped towards the tavern.
---------------
Richard stared at the ashes sadly. A driftwood sign saying 'Drinks Counter' in bold calligraphy was still legible. He had arrived too late, and people had been incinerated.
Why couldn't dragyns stop holding grudges? The people who chased them had no idea what they were getting into.
He sighed, and Fleck chattered something. Richard subconsciously stroked the golden-brown fur. A monkey was an excellent companion for a dragyn hunter, apart from the occasional attempts to put them in zoos. That was unfortunate. Fleck could have warned the man.
A breeze ruffled Richard's hair and made a mini tornado of soot.
The thing about dragyns is they're smart. No trap has yet captured a dragyn and most of the places where traps are designed and made are frequently torched. But if they're so smart, why don't they cover their tracks and stay out of sight?
Nobody knows. Maybe they enjoy killing, or they just test us to see how smart we are.
Richard sighed again. Nobody knows, but one thing is for certain.
Never chase a dragyn.
* Dragon
The soul thief ... by Lia, aged 12
The house stood out like a leafy tree in a barren desert. It had an eerie feel about it. The driftwood walls resembled ivory spears, strong and fierce, yet weathered as though they had fought many battles. The house belonged to Him. He, the one I detest more than any other. This is all I know, all I have to hold on to. These flashes, these memories that come from nowhere. I do not know the beginning of this story so we will have to start in the middle.
The middle begins here. With me. Right now. I know this is not the end of my story yet I know this isn't the beginning either. There must be a reason. A reason why He put me here, in this book.
It's a nice book. Soft brown leather binding, yellowing parchment, and there are words too. Words written in blood. Words that just appeared, just then.
There is also a picture. A picture of the house I described. The house I saw in my flashes, traces, fits, whatever you want to call them. The words written in blood read:
Dear unfortunate one
To leave this book is simple. Print your name in blood.
But once you leave you will be cursed, cursed with misfortune.
Until you free me from this book.
You must make Him, yes Him,
Free all the other souls,
Good day.
The writing vanishes.
I sit here wondering what to do next. I think I'll leave and free all the other souls. I write my name in blood. It tingles a little, but my name is fairly short.
I'm not sure how it happened but I am now flailing around like a demented monkey in a puddle of mud. The start of my misfortune, I guess. I look up and see the house. Yes. The house. The one where He lives. I still haven't worked out who He is yet, but I shall soon find out.
I knock on the door. Will someone answer it? Part of me wants Him to, the other half wants to hide in the corner.
Footsteps. I hear footsteps. And then I hear a creak and then the door opens.
An old man stands in the doorway. A fairly normal man aside from the long white scar that reaches from the left side of his forehead down to his neck. It's a long, uneven scar. A knife slash probably.
He stares at me. His eyeballs piercing me. He looks me up and down and lunges with a snarl.
I grab him and say "How about a cup of tea then?"
A cup of tea, really, what was I thinking?
"Yes, OK" he agrees. We walk into his kitchen. It's filled with books, books, books, books everywhere. Books full with souls.
I find his kettle and begin making tea.
"I can't help it," he says. He sounds weird and determined. He literally looks in every book in the kitchen until he finds what he's looking for.
He mutters a few words and the books begin to shake and quiver. Then it stops. Surprisingly simple. A little too simple actually.
Huge stampedes of people are running into the kitchen, fists raised, yelling loudly, a look of anger etched upon their faces.
"Stop!" I yell. "Stop, he's innocent." Everyone is frozen, staring at me. "He's crazy, he doesn't know what he is doing."
A little girl, with rosy cheeks and long blonde plaits, comes forward from the crowd.
"Thank you," she says.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
and the winners are...
Okay everyone, I know you've been desperately waiting to know who won the "Are we there yet?" writing competition, so here are the winning entries (to read the story just click on the title):
Category 1 (7-8 years):
- Zoe, aged 8 - $70:00 voucher for "Are we there yet?"
- Evangeline, aged 8 - $40:00 voucher for "My Whitsundays trip"
Category 2 (9-10 years):
- Liam, aged 10 - $70:00 book voucher for "Arkervery Stowder"
- Sienna, aged 10 - $40:00 voucher for "'Are we there yet?' said the littlest ant"
Category 3 (11-12 years):
- Pearl, aged 11 - $70:00 voucher for "The teafall tree"
- Elsa, aged 11 - $40:00 voucher for "Some family holiday"
As usual the standard was high, so congratulations to those who won this time around, and thanks to all who entered - they were all wonderful stories so don't stop writing because your turn to win will come one day!
My Whitsundays trip ... by Evangeline, aged 8
"Are we there yet?"
It was a long plane trip and I kept on saying "are we there yet?"
It was a long plane trip and I kept on saying "are we there yet?"
Finally, we arrived at Hamilton Island
We went to lots of bays around the islands. We would anchor in the bays, sleep there and the next day we would snorkel and see lots of fish, sea slugs, turtles and lots of pretty coral. When we were swimming back to the boat I kept on saying “are we there yet?” because we snorkelled far away from the boat. Then Wendie swam to the boat and got the dinghy and quickly came to pick us up. Then we went to see the big clam, it was enormous. It was so big it was scary. It was bigger than me! But, it was also pretty with purple. We went over the top of it with the dinghy and it would shut its shell very fast. Then we went back to the boat and had lunch.
On the next day we went to Windy Bay and snorkelled, again! I loved doing it. Today we saw a shark. Yes, a real shark. It was resting underneath a rock ledge. It was fast asleep and Wendie told us it was a white tip reef shark that wont hurt you. We saw lots of clown fish, they had a sea anemone.
We went on a beach called Whitehaven Beach and I loved playing with my brother and sister, then we went to check out a camping site. It was sheltered by all the trees and we saw lots of campers coming in on a boat. I also spotted a goanna, he had dots and lines and all awesome patterns. On the beach we made a big sand castle when dad and mum were on a walk on Whitehaven Beach.
My brother loves fishing. We went out on the dinghy and fished and my brother got a big nibble. He almost pulled it in but it got away! I think the fish was saying, “I hope I am not there yet?” I love swimming with the turtles because we could swim next to them and see them swimming with their legs, we could even see the moss on their backs. One night my brother and Ian caught heaps of fish for dinner, they had yellow tails and were really yummy to eat.
We were on a big walk and I kept on saying “are we there yet?” There was lots of trees and stairs, finally we got there. We could see all the different islands then we walked back, it didn’t take as long. Downhill was easier but daddy said it was hard for him. One day there was garfish all around the boat, they have a long pointy nose. While we were moving we caught a fish, it was a Queensland school mackerel, it had dots on its side. We stayed at bay 25 for the last night then we got up early to clean the boat. Then we went to the boat mariner and then we got on the plane and I kept on saying...
Are we there yet? said the littlest ant ... by Sienna, aged 10
Chapter #1
Everyone has heard of ants, right, well this is a story about them. Let me introduce the Antersans. Mamma Ant, Papa Ant, Brother Ant, Sister Ant and the Littlest Ant. They set off on an adventure to find the Magical Wizard of the City of Parecsell
Chapter #2
It was a lovely day for the Antersans to go and have a picnic, well someone else’s picnic. Papa Ant could see it in the distance. It was a long way away but it was all worth it. They started walking, when they had at least walked two metres the Littlest Ant asked “Are we there yet?” “No we are not,” said Papa Ant. “Well where are we then?” said the Littlest Ant, “I suppose we are near a BEE HIVE!!!RUN!!!” Papa Ant cried. The Antersans ran as fast as they could. They didn’t run very far as they were ants, mind you. The Littlest Ant was lagging behind. “Here jump on my back.” Sister Ant yelled. He hopped on and they continued running.
Chapter #3
They had finally lost the bees and were resting. “Awe look it’s a kitty cat,” Sister Ant said. “Well at least we don’t have anything to worry about,” Brother Ant said. “Well maybe we do have something to worry about.” The Antersans started backing up as the cat was licking his lips and coming closer. “W-w-what do you want from us, we’ll give you anything, well apart from our skin and legs and arms an…” “What, I’m not going to eat you, don’t be silly,” the cat said, cutting him off. The ants were very surprised. “I was just wandering if you needed a lift somewhere since you are ants.” “Well we were trying to get to that picnic over there,” said Mama Ant. “But bees started chasing us” the Littlest Ant said feeling quite scared as if he would pee his pants, even though he didn’t have any. “What that wizard picnic over there, sure I’ll take you.” So the Antersans hopped on the cats back and started to head off again.
Chapter #4
“Are we there yet?” the Littlest Ant asked for the second time. “No we are not, can’t you see,” Brother Ant said. “Actually, we are” said the cat. “Thank you” Papa Ant said before the cat ran away. The picnic was massive; there were cookies to ice cream, fruit to sweets, and lots of tasty sandwiches. “Look there are the wizards,” cried the Littlest Ant, and yes he was right. “But which is the one we should choose?” “This one” Sister Ant said. “Hey, Hey!!!” The Wizard looked around, “Down here!!!” she yelled. “Why, it’s a talking ant,” the wizard said. “You’d be surprised if you knew how many animals we know that can talk” thinking about the cat and the worm, dog, squirrel and the birds they knew at home. “Pleased to meet you little ant, what can I do for you and your tiny little family?” he said fixing his glasses. “We want to be turned into humans,” she yelled. “Well I would be delighted to do this for you, but you will remain humans until the crystal orb of the wizards is found.” “Deal,” she said, feeling very excited. “Well then,” the wizard said, “Hocus Pocus, with the power of magic I grant you ants humans of our ancient world.” he said waving his magic wand. The sky filled up with shining light and purple, they had been turned into humans.
Chapter #5
“Wow!!! I have arms, legs, feet and little things that are on my hands!!!” squealed the Littlest Ant. “Thank you wizard” Papa Ant said. The wizards from the picnic vanished and left the Antersans. They started walking on. “This isn’t as fun as when we were ants,” the Littlest Ant said, or child I should say. The slide was shorter because they were bigger now. “Let's go and see what’s in that big place full of buildings” Papa said, heading towards city. It was full of lots and lots of people. "This isn’t as much fun as being ants” the Littlest Child said. “I agree, lets go find that wizard."
Chapter #6
The Antersans started walking, “Are we there yet?” said, well you already know who said it. “No we are not, so stop whinging and start walking,” said Mamma, getting quite frustrated. When they were walking past a big tall tree they heard a “meow”. “Papa look it’s a cat in the tree” said the Littlest Child. “Let's get it down.” So he did. “You’re the cat that took us to the wizards.” “Why yes I am” replied the cat. “Where are you guys heading off to now?” “To find the wizard,” they said. “Oh, would you like me to show you where it is?” asked the cat. “Oh yes, please do” said Mamma. So they followed the cat to the big, tall, dark, black tower in the distance. “Here we are, you might have a hard time getting in, there are lots of dragon guards” said the cat. “Bye bye for now” and he disappeared. They knocked on the door. “Who dares to enter the fortress of the wizards of the city of Parecsell
Chapter #7
“Why are you here?” the wizard said. “We already told you,” said the Littlest Child. “Ah, yes, you want to become ants again, well that might be a bit hard since the crystal orb of the wizards hasn’t been found yet, but there is a twin at the bottom of this castle, but I have never dared to defeat the evil black wizard of darkness, Zoldar, he has powers we don’t know about” finished the wizard. “Well then how do we get it?” asked the sister. “You will have to defeat him yourself, I will show you where the entrance is.” So they followed the wizard to the bottom of the castle. “Are we there yet?” asked you know who. “Yes, yes we are” said the wizard. Fire was coming from the other side of the doors. “I’m going in,” said the sister. "Noooooo don’t go in there,” cried the wizard but it was to late, she had disappeared into the dark, fiery room.
Chapter #8
“Ah, the sister of the lot, I have been expecting you” said Zoldar. “Where is the orb?” “And what orb are you referring to” Zoldar asked. “The wizard orb” she said getting very angry. “You mean this one?” he said holding it up. She went to grab it “ah, ah, ah, you have to defeat me first” he said. Grabbing his wand the fire turned into a dragon. “Meet my friend the fire dragon” he said. The sister thought hard, so hard he thought her brain would explode. Nearby there was a glass of water. She picked it up and splashed the fire dragon. It disappeared. “You may have won this round but you won't win the next” he said as he created a big gust of wind heading towards her. What defeats wind, she thought. Nature of course. She picked up a wand and built a barrier of trees and vines. This will be the hardest she thought. Suddenly a huge black hole came into the centre of the room. It was full of her fears and nightmares. She couldn’t stand listening to the noise, so she cupped her hands over her ears and fell to the ground. “Not so fast” the rest of the family and the wizard burst into the room. “We're gonna kick your butt” said the Littlest Child. They pulled her away from the hole and hid behind a turned over table. Quietly the Littlest Child crept behind Zoldar, stole his wand and broke it. “Nooooooo” cried Zoldar as he disappeared and so did the hole. And what remained of him was the orb.
Chapter #9
The Littlest Child picked it up. All of the Antersans touched the orb and wished for the same wish, and with a little abracadabra… the room filled with purple and blue, the Antersans were lifted up into the air and shrunk back to the size of ants and became themselves again. “Lets' go home,” the sister said. And so they did.
“Goodbye” said the wizard. The Antersans were going home with the cat. “Goodbye wizard” they said back. “ Mama,” said the Littlest Ant. “Yes dear?” “Are we there yet?”
Arkervery Stowder ... by Liam, aged 10
Are we there yet? thought Samantha, or, to be precise Samantha Gordon. She liked to be precise, it was her thing. Samantha was twelve, she had long brown hair, blue eyes and a perfect nose.
She was in a car.
It was a completely normal English day. Raining, of course. Samantha was on her way to school, just an ordinary day. It seemed so normal to her, but that is where she was wrong. This was no ordinary day. This was the day were she would learn about magic. Samantha didn’t know that, no one did.
It was 8:53. She drifted through all of the things that happened that day, past the maths test, past play and lunch. Past all the school stuff. Gazing out of the passenger seat of her parent’s car on her way home, she saw something strange, something unnerving.
“Mum, drop me off here... I-I’ll walk the rest.”
“Honey are you sure?”
“Yeah I want a bit of exercise.”
“OK.”
Samantha’s mum Stephanie pulled over and let Samantha out. What she had seen was a man, a regular man, but he had snapped his fingers together and conjured up a fireball. He had looked up and seen her watching and it died down. The man had the deepest of blue eyes, black hair escaping from under his Trilby hat.
Samantha walked up to the man.
“Do that again.”
“Do what again?”
“You know... click your fingers and summon a flame.”
“Damn, you saw that” the man muttered.
The man stared a full circle around her, which Samantha found disturbing.
“You can do it too” said the man.
“No I can’t.”
“Yes you can. You just don’t know it. I can see it in your aura.”
“What’s an aura?”
“It’s a magical thing that surrounds all living things. Don’t you see it?”
“Ha ha very funny. I’m just here to find out how you did that not to talk about some aura, I need to get home. That fireball, did someone project it onto your hand?“
“We need to talk. I’ll duplicate you.”
“Wait. WHAT??”
The man shoved his right hand out and a duplicate of Samantha appeared out of nowhere.
Samantha shrieked.
“WHAT-WHAT IS THAT THING!!”
“Calm down.”
Samantha took a huge breath and finally shut up. The duplicate of Samantha started to walk away.
“It’ll go to your house and carry on with your life while you’re not there. Now where was I. OK, so do you see auras” said the man.
“Sometimes I see fuzzy things around people. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
“OK she sees auras” muttered the man.
“OK let’s start again, and allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arkervery Stowder. Fifth son of the son of the son of the son of the fifth son of some very famous dude that I forget the name of.”
“OK I get the point” said Samantha “now do that thing again.”
Arkervery snapped his fingers and a flame started in his hand.
“Wow” whispered Samantha.
“Now I was in this part of town to get a partner from the Order of First Magic, but it seems I may have already found one.”
“Me, you can’t be serious, can you?”
“I am a serious man.”
“Well I can see that. But maybe it would be fun; I mean there is a tiny, tiny, tiny chance that I would like it.”
“That meaning yes?”
“Well... yes that probably would.”
They walked to Arkervery’s car and drove.
“Were are we going?” asked Samantha.
“To the Order of First Magic, to find out if they approve of you being my partner, it could take awhile.To pass the time Samantha went to sleep. She had a nightmare.
-------------------------
“The time has come my lord.”
“Good... The Frexling has awoken, nothing will stop us now."
-------------------------
Samantha awoke panting. What was that? she thought. She didn’t want to tell Arkervery, she thought he might worry and quiz her.
They pulled over, Arkervery and Samantha got out. Arkervery led the way down an alley, Samantha following. At the end there was a door. Arkervery opened it beckoning to Samantha to follow. She walked in and gasped.
It was all white tiles, people were walking around in lab coats with clipboards and pens, there were corridors leading out of the giant room to other places, at the far end of the room there was a throne with a person on it, trying to look very important. Samantha took an instant dislike to him.
Two people walked up to Arkervery and Samantha, one a man with brown eyes, brown skin, no hair and two swords strapped to his back. The other, blonde hair, beige skin and a beautiful face, she had a lot of throwing knives strapped all over her body.
“Ahhh... Samantha meet--”
“Tomb Cryer” said the man in a gruff voice.
“And Taniery Come” said the woman.
“These are my colleagues and friends” said Arkervery.
“Hi I’m Samantha nice to meet the two of you.”
Taniery and Samantha shook hands and then so did Samantha and Tomb.
After some convincing the man in the throne agreed to let Samantha become Arkervery’s partner, apparently his name was Shleep Jones which Samantha found hilarious.
Suddenly the lights went out.
“Power failure?" tried Arkervery.
There was a roar and then a giant bandaged hand swooped out of nowhere and picked Samantha up, then it was gone.
-------------------------
Samantha found herself in an abandoned castle, her vision was blurry but she could just make out a man walking towards her.
“Hello sweetheart” said the man in a crude, twisted voice. ”You are here and now Arkervery will be coming. But he won’t save you, I can promise you that, oh, my I have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Serpivious Cainv, the to-be destroyer of the Order of First Magic, now I shall reveal my plan. I enjoy this you see, to reveal my plan to give the opponent a sliver of hope and then wrench it just out of their grasp.
“So when the great Arkervery Stowder comes to your rescue he will fail, naturally, and then I shall release the great Frexling upon the Order of First Magic, and then the Order shall be mine and I shall be so powerful that I could do literally anything!"
-------------------------
The van pulled over just out of sight of the monster. Arkervery, Taniery and Tomb hopped out of the van.
“How do we get around it?” asked Taniery.
“We don’t.” Whispered Arkervery “It would sense us coming. It’s a Frexling.”
“Crap. We have to fight It.” muttered Tomb.
“One the count of three” said Arkervery “One... Two... Three!”
They all jumped out from hiding, but the Frexling was the first to act, it whipped around sending a giant fist straight for Arkervery’s face. He flew backwards smashing into the castle wall. Taniery slashed at the Frexling’s leg while Tomb took his swords from his back. Arkervery recovered quickly, drawing twin revolvers from the inside of his coat, firing a dozen bullets at point blank range, each bullet smashing square between the Frexling’s eyes, but having no effect.
Tomb jumped up driving his swords into each of the Frexling’s eyes. The creature howled out in pain and reared around and Tomb dropped his swords still in the Frexling’s eyes.
Arkervery clicked his fingers summoning a flame climbing up the Frexling and stuffing it into the Frexling’s heart. Its heart started to throb, literal heart burn. It tumbled to the ground.
Dead.
Arkervery loaded his guns, burned the castle gates and strolled in. He found Serpivious in the king’s chamber. He had two guns pointed at Serpivious’ head.
“You’re under arrest”. Serpivious tried to turn around and fight, but the bullets had already pierced his skull.
-------------------------
Samantha's mind whirred as it thought through the things that had now happened that day, past the fireball, past the Duplicate, past the white roomed Order of Magic, past becoming a Partner of Magic, past the abduction, past the slaying of the Frexling and Serpivious. Definitely time to get home.
So much for my ordinary day!
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