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The Best of Friends
By Ash, age 13, Year 8th, School, Blanchard, Oklahoma
Ding, dong. "I'll get it," yelled eleven year old Allison Nichelson. Allison dashed to the door, excitedly, to see who it was. She looked out the window. "Yes, it's Jamie!" exclaimed Allison. Jamie Yuler was Allison's best friend, who also happened to be eleven years old, just like Allison. Allison opened the door and greeted Jamie even before she could say anything. "Hi, Jamie!" exclaimed Allison.
"Hello, Alli," Jamie said back. "I was wondering. Would you like to come to my house?" asked Jamie.
"Sure," replied Allison. "I'll go ask my mom." Allison hurried up the stairs. She barged into her mother's room. "Mom, mom! Can I go to Jamie's house?" asked Allison.
"Sure," her mother answered.
Allison hurried back downstairs. "Let's go!" she said.
"Be back by 5:30!" her mother shouted as Allison ran out the door.
As soon as they got to Jamie's house, they ran up the stairs and went into Jamie's room.
"I need to talk to you about something really important, Alli," began Jamie. "Well, you know how my family really likes Arizona, right? This year when we go on vacation, we are going to stay there longer. Longer than we usually do," Jamie said in an uncomfortable voice.
"How much longer?" asked Allison
"A lot longer. What I'm trying to say is...well...I'm moving to Arizona," Jamie announced, in a very sad voice.
"When?" asked Allison, almost crying.
"In eight months," answered Jamie. By then, the two girls were both crying, with their arms crossed, each staring at their own newly wallpapered wall.
As soon as the girls were done crying, Jamie was the first to speak. "How do you like my room?" Jamie asked, still in an uncomfortable voice. Jamie's mother had recently put up new daisy wallpaper and painted the walls yellow, hoping to make people more interested in their house. The Yulers also made many other improvements in the house to attract people to their home.
"Do you remember when we, Allison?" Jamie asked.
"Sure I do! I remember that day like it was just yesterday," answered Allison, forgetting all about what Jamie had told her.
"It was our first day of second grade," Jamie told Allison.
"You were in a race with all your friends from first grade. And I was walking through the field," added Allison. Allison had been new to the school in second grade. Jamie had attended the school since pre-school.
"When all of a sudden, I ran into you and we both fell down," Jamie said laughing.
"The next day we both had black eyes. Ever since, we've been the best of friends!" Allison said, smiling ear to ear.
"Allison!" shouted Mrs. Yuler, "You have to go home now. It's 5:30!"
"Uh, Oh," Allison said, worrying that her mother would be upset. Mrs. Nichelson got really worried when Allison was even a few minutes late. "I have to go. Bye, bye," Allison said, while rushing out the door.
That night, Allison and Jamie were both up crying. Allison decided she wanted to call Jamie to talk about the move. Ring! Ring! Jamie picked up the phone. "Hello?" Jamie said in a very tired voice.
"Hi, Jamie. I called to tell you that I was up crying last night. I don't know how I will survive without you!" Allison told Jamie.
"Me, too!" Jamie said.
"Well, it's kind of early," Allison said.
"We really should get going," replied Jamie.
"Bye, Jamie," Allison said while yawning.
After eight miserable months of hours on the phone and many sad sleepovers, It was finally time for Jamie to leave for Arizona.
"I am going to miss you sooooooo much, Jamie!" said Allison.
"I am going to miss you, too, Alli!" said Jamie.
"Allison!" shouted her father. Allison ran over.
"Yes, Dad?" asked Allison.
"Well, I just go a call from work. They said they want to transfer me to a store in Arizona," Mr. Nichelson whispered into her ear.
"YES! I'm so happy!" Allison exclaimed.
"But it's not until one year," explained her father.
"It's better than nothing," Allison said while running off to tell Jamie. On the way, Allison did four back-hand springs in a row. Alli and Jamie had been taking gymnastics together for four years now. "Jamie, Jamie, Jamie!" shouted Allison. "You won't believe what I'm about to tell you!"
"What, What?" Jamie said excitedly.
"I'm moving to Arizona, too!" Allison said so excited at the moment, she felt like crying. Jamie got out of the car and the two girls hugged each other. "Oh, I forgot one thing," Allison added, "It won't be for one year." The girls just sat there for a minute.
"I can't wait!" they both said together!
THE END:)
Poems
By Allyson, age 12, St. Luke's School, New York City, USA
Elements of Life
I cry
Tears pierce my soul
Emotions run rapid
Joy, love, and grace can only describe
My lifeLive & Learn
Tears never burned so badly
They pierce your skin like the vicious bite of a leech
It crawls all over you with no remorse
It's your friend
It's your enemy
It's your heartbreak
Love
Bone
By Kirsti, age 9, Riverbend School, Springfield,OR, USA
There was a dog
Who had a bone and dropped it in the river.
He dived down under
Couldn't find it
And ran back home for another.
The Diary
By Kerri, age 12, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
PREFACE (SORT OF)
Shara is dead.
I am not going to be one of those people who gets you to really come to like someone, then kills their character off at the end. I don't like that kind of book. So just for the record, Shara is dead. She was murdered and there is nothing else to it.
In life, Shara had been a great person. She was an active Student, and a all around good person. Her life ended before her time. I know why. I am going to tell you her story and I hope it teaches you something.
CHAPTER 1
March 26, 1999 3 A.M.
A terrifying gunfire rang out from Shara's bedroom. Neighbors quickly notified the police, but it was no use. By the time they got there, it was too late. Shara was gone. Devastation hit everyone. Her parents, me, my family, me, the town, me; mostly me. I tried to run into the house; but the police blocked me. They said it was to horrifying for me to see. They turned their backs and walked away, and I sneaked in. They were right. It was horrifying. Her lifeless body laid on the ground. The stench of blood hung in the air of the house. I tried my best to stay composed; but the scene got to me. I ran to her body; but I tripped on something square. No one is about, for all of them have gone to comfort her parents, so I took the square object. It's her diary.
********************************************************************************
March 26, 1999 4 A.M.
I was dumbstruck. Here, in my hands lay a crucial piece of her life. It may even be a even more crucial piece of evidence. I started to fiddle with the little lock on the side of the diary. It opens right away. It was cheap. I looked at the 500 pages filled with Shara's neat scrawl. I looked at the first date to see when she had started it. It had been in last November. I was sort of shocked. To finish 500 pages in a matter of months was pretty amazing. I read the first page. It was a bunch of stuff I didn't understand. It was very deep, and I didn't get it. Not that I am THAT shallow... but maybe just a little. I decided that if she had written it, then I was going to get to the bottom of this by reading her diary. It was what she would have wanted; wasn't it? I figured so, and went to reading.
Her entries were all about the basically the same thing. They spoke of her hiding her true feelings, and never telling anyone how unhappy she was. Or at least, I think that's what they were about. As I said, she was a lot more deep then me. Her entries mentioned me as "the reason worth living" and "my light to carry on". It was flattering, but also scary. What did she mean? I wasn't sure that I wanted to know.
Not all her entries included just me. Many included her enemies. She wrote of weird twisted things she would do to make them pay if she made it through. I was baffled for two reasons. Shara had always been someone who said revenge was not the key. She seemed to hate it when people did that, so why was she talking of doing it herself? I shook the thought to the back of my mind. She was probably just blowing off steam. I went on. There was nothing to explain what she meant by "made it through". As I was getting to the next entry, a heard someone entering the house. I quickly did my best to stuff the little book into my trousers, and then climbed out the window as not to be seen.
********************************************************************************
CHAPTER 2
March 26, 1999 6:30 A.M.
I ran as quickly as I could back to my house. When I flew into the door, the only face I saw was my cat's. I figured that my parents had gone to Shara's parents to comfort them. I flew to my room and flung the little book on my bed. At first, I was afraid to touch it. I didn't want to know who had killed her; but I knew that I had to do it for her; I had to. I sat down on my bed and reluctantly opened the little book. I felt I was trespassing on her guarded secrets. I forced myself to look down upon the page and read further.
It seemed to be hours between the time I started reading and the time I couldn't take it any more. I tried my hardest to convince myself it was for the best; but I found that hard to believe. The more I read, the more it didn't make sense, so how was it going to help for the best? I felt like an overworked energizer bunny; I had to keep going and going, and it just wasn't any fun. Still I read on.
********************************************************************************
April 2, 1999 1:00 A.M.
I had been reading the diary for a whole week. I was incredibly irritated at Shara. If she had been so unhappy, why hadn't she told me? I could have helped her. She had been such an idiot. Tangling with those people who in her Diary were her enemies.
The word "were" struck me like one-thousand knives. She was no longer here. She was a memory. I closed the little book and looked at the clock. It was 1:17 A.M. I laid the little book next to my bed, and tried to get some sleep. This would all seem better in the morning.
********************************************************************************
April 3, 1999 10:00 A.M.
I wasn't right. It seemed worse than ever. My best friend's killer was out on the loose, and Shara had had so many enemies, it was impossible to blame just one. I pressed on in her Diary; determined that today would be the day I figured out who it was. Of course, I had been saying that every day for over a week and where had it gotten me? Nowhere, that's where. It took me awhile, but I finally decided I needed to keep reading her diary. In the first sentence something caught my eye... I repeated the sentence to myself and then thought about it hard.
Dear Diary,
The day of my departure is drawing nearer.Was she talking of the departure from the world? If she had known someone was going to kill her, why didn't she say something. I kicked myself for being stupid. Because if she did they would still kill her. I knew then that someone in the diary had killed her. I read the names of the people she listed in her diary again and again. The facts weren't coming together. None of these people had a real motive. Sure they didn't like Shara, but that was no reason to just kill her out of nowhere. It must have been blackmail. It was the most sensible thing that I could come up with. It was the only thing that I could come up with.
********************************************************************************
CHAPTER 3
May 6, 1999 3:30 P.M.
I had managed to avoid the diary for a month. I was scared of it; scared of finding out what had happened. I was just plain scared. One day I knew that I had to read it. In that first week, I had managed to read over half. I had pushed myself to read it to much. Now I knew I had to finish it. I did everything I could to stall, but it was no use. I gave in and read another entry. The more I read, the more her entries grew worse. Always talking about how the end was near. I knew she must have been going insane, there must have been something wrong, but she hid it to well in life for me to notice.
********************************************************************************
May 8. 1999 10:15 P.M.
I had just finished the diary. I was now thoroughly scared. I was also incredibly ticked off. Somewhere out there my best friend's killer was walking free, having a normal life after she or he had destroyed so many others. How could that person live from day to day? How could they go on as if they didn't do something so heinous? It made me sick to my stomach to think about it. The stupid diary hadn't helped at all. It had just given me a list of suspects longer than the Constitution! I was so angry, and so frustrated. I didn't know what I was doing. The next thing I knew I was hurling the little book across my room.
********************************************************************************
CHAPTER 4
May 8, 1999 10:25 P.M.
It broke. It had been so cheap that it broke in half. As I retrieved the broken pieces, I noticed something about the front cover. It had been sewn up in an expert manner. I had never known that Shara could so, but I knew that this was strange, so I got out a pocket knife and sliced open the seems.
A note in neat scrawl fell out. I picked it up from the ground and read it aloud to myself:
To whomever (if anyone ever does) finds this:
My name is Shara. This is my suicide confession. If you read the diary, you can tell I was unhappy. I don't know if this problem is fixable so this is why I am killing myself. Please tell Tony that it's not his fault, and then tell my parents the same. Sometimes they were the only things that kept me going. But I have worn out my welcome. I have only one true friend and that is not enough for me to change my mind. I don't blame anyone but myself. Goodbye.
Shara Grove.Guess who was Tony...
I broke down crying. There had been many hints. I had been so thick-headed. I had known that somebody in the diary had killed her, I just never expected her to do it herself. I had been right about one thing. She had been murdered. She had been murdered by herself.
THE END
The Tragedy 'Delight'
By Laura, age 12, Colbayns High School, Clacton-on-sea in the U.K
The boat which was called Delight was just about to leave the port. There was four people riding on the boat, Amy, Matt, Liam and their father Josh.
People were shouting "Good luck" and cheering to the family. Josh and Matt had been preparing their boat for this very special moment. They came from Dublin and were going to sail to Lisbon which is near Portugal. It seemed pretty far to the people not going but to the family it didn't. They had sailed before but not on their own made boat. It could sink but they had put all their faith into this boat and they were sure it wouldn't sink.
They had set off at around 11:00am they wouldn't get there for at least 2 days because the boat wasn't that fast in sailing and the seas would get rough and slow them down. People that didn't go had watched the T.V and had discovered that there was a huge storm it was heading towards them and would probably go past Lisbon and Portugal. That was were the boat was going. The next few hours were like living in a small wooden box with no holes in for Josh's wife and the children's Mum. She was called Andrea.
"Dad look ahead what's that?" shouted Matt over the loud strong winds.
"Looks like a storm get Liam and Amy into the bottom of the boat. Quick!!"
"O.K"
Matt had led Amy and Liam down into the bottom of the boat and told them not to move. Amy and Liam just sat on the table and talked. "Matt put the sails down!"
Matt did this. Josh was watching the storm hoping it would turn away, but it didn't it was coming straight for them. They couldn't turn the boat away now because it was to late.
The storm hit them, tipping the boat side to side with water pouring onto the deck of the boat the winds were so strong that you couldn't hear anyone shout, scream or even talk. It was the most scary moment of their lives but it wasn't over yet....
"Mattttttt" shouted Josh in his loudest voice.
Matt had fallen overboard.
"Matt I'm coming!!"
Josh had jumped in after Matt and basically saved his life.They made it to Lisbon and rang Andrea and told them what had happened. They went back to Dublin they decided to go a more safer way this time. While Matt recovered from shock Amy and Liam played for hours and made little models of boats. They didn't understand what had happened.
Andrea was happy when they all came home the first thing she said was:
"Well I'm glad you're home safe and well!"
"SO ARE WE!!!"
There was huge celebrations and parties that the Bell family were safe and well and guess what their party theme was..... BOATS!!!!!"I hope you all enjoyed my story!!!!"
Lurve Laura xxxxxx
Storm
By Christopher, age 13, England
A lightning-bringer
A rain-bringer
A thunder-singer
A sound-maker
A natural-disaster
The Deep Blue Sea
By Chloe, age 9, Mourya, N.S.W., Australia
I am the sea.
Please listen to me.
As I can hear the sea.
People love me.
Driftwood with seaweed floating all over me.
As you see.
So please don't pollute me.
Shipwrecks, treasure chests, sunken in me.
But please! I like to keep the world clean.
I have fish, sea creatures that are diving in and out of me.
Coral colourful and bright living in the depths of the sea.
Divers diving through me.
The sun up above me and a slight breeze.
Please look after me.
Don't pollute me.
As I am the deep blue sea.
The Beautiful Butterfly
By Maria, age 7, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Once upon a time there lived a beautiful butterfly. Her name was Kim. Every butterfly was wanting to be like Kim. But there was a caterpillar in the town too. But none of the butterflies wanted to be like him. One day the caterpillar was walking down the street when BOOOM!
The caterpillar smashed right into Kim!
He didn't know what to do in front of the prettiest butterfly in the town of Bugsville. So he just said "Sorry," and walked away.
Kim didn't mind at all. Just then the caterpillar was on a leaf spinning a cocoon! He stayed there for 6 days. On the sixth day, the caterpillar cracked the cocoon in 2 pieces!!!!!! Then he was a beautiful butterfly like Kim only better!
Earth calling Lulu
By Ellie, age 9, Leicester, England
Earth calling Lulu
your head is in the clouds,
Your homework's down the toilet
And your drink is down your blouse!Earth calling Lulu
Listenings not your thing,
The only thing you think about is...well...nothing!Earth calling Lulu
Your head is hollow,
Don't get out of your chair dear,
There's much, much more to follow.Earth calling Lulu
Your always half asleep.
Is it hard to sleep at night?
Try counting sheep.Earth calling Lulu
Just one more thing to add.
The history you did today wasn't too bad!
The noise
By Chris, age 13, England, Macclesfield Cheshire
The creak of a shack, wooden and old,
The crash of the seas, icy and cold,
The crack of a cane, the scream of a child,
The claw of the wind, vicious and wild.The snap of a ruler, broken and bent,
The squelch of some mud, my feet make the dent,
The slither of a snake, the echo of a roar,
The slap of my hand, the slam of the door.
My Cat, The Poem
By Chris, age 13, England, Macclesfield Cheshire
My cat Jim was born in may, soon his nine lives would fade away.
My cat Jim likes apple pies, he ate too much and nearly died.
My cat Jim likes to make dens, he suffocated in there and nearly died again.
My cat Jim he likes to fly, he flew too high and nearly died.
My cat Jim he plays with knives, he threw it too high
And nearly died.
My cat Jim he likes to dive he went too deep and nearly died.
My cat Jim he climbed a tree, he fell out of there and nearly died again.
My cat Jim likes to play with fire, he got burnt there and nearly died again.
My cat Jim he always cries, he cried too much and nearly died.
My cat Jim he went into the road, he got knocked over there and died.
My cat Jim has lost all his lives all because of those apple pies.
What's in my diary?
By Amna, age 12, Sialkot Cantt, Pakistan
What's in my diary.
My alarm clock's ringing
Wake up in the morning
Have a bath,
And follow the path to school.
Sometimes weather is cool
Or sometimes hot.
My teacher says
Work hard a lot.
I come back home.
Read a book or
Help to cook
Potatoes,
Tomatoes,
Rice which are rather nice.
I help her to bake
A cake
Or I go for fishing in the lake.
Go to sleep
Order comes from my dad.
Put that heap of toys
And I go back to sleep.
The Rise and fall of Martin Timpson
By Ashley, age 13, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
This is a story about a man called Martin; Martin was a Man who lived in London in an old flat with his girl friend, Deborah. The flat was grubby and the landlord as an old woman that words "being nice" didn't come in to her vocabulary. Martin was a bit low on cash reserves.
And his job was a shop assistant in an old shop what hadn't had a customer in the last 50 years, so he decided to put a pound on the lottery.Four years later Martin had won about Thirty pounds. One day he watched the T.V and on the National lottery update he noticed he had quite a lot of numbers. Martin had won Seven hundred and fifty pounds so he threw a big party and got drunk. The next day he thought what to do with the money but he found it difficult to do so with a hang over so he went to bed. When he got up he had and idea -- to start a business so he did so but it wasn't doing so well so he hired a new chief executive.
Martin joined the navy and was away for four years but when he got back the company was a major corporation and it had made millions! In fact he had made Three and a half million pounds martin went out and bought a massive house and a Red Ferrari. Seven years later his financial advisor said that he was loosing money and fast so he had to sell the business and move out of his house, The Ferrari was nicked!
Martin had two hundred thousand pounds in the bank so he bought a nice house with a Ford Mondeo and had a job as a technician. Martin was back to a normal life with a normal car and a normal bank account.
Martin Lived in that house for 40 years and had a son, then he moved out and lived in a cottage for 15 years and died at the age of 75. Martin was cremated and his ashes scattered over the Dover cliffs.
His son joined the army and was killed in action.
The holey path
By Jack, age 11, Highfield Primary School, Nottingham, England
As I was walking along it seemed to be a usual day. When all of a sudden the path started to move. I was really scared when the path dropped. I was hanging on for dear life.
I pulled myself up and stared to run but some more of the path started to move and all of the path started to drop behind me
I was running for my dear life. I got to the end and it was a dead end. And I was stuck.
I seen a boy on top, he helped me up just in time and when I turned around he was gone.
I ran home and I was wondering where the boy had gone
When I got home I told my mum all about it.
A HAUNTED MOTEL
By Mpumelelo, age 12, Bindura Primary School, Bindura, Zimbabwe
Our car had broke down. We had no choice but to sieep in a unusual motel. The moon was full and the smell of a werewolf was floating in the air. You could hear frightening noises from the basement.
'WOO WOO...'were the sounds that rang in our now swollen ears. For a second I thought it was Halloween because of the beasts we saw outside.
A strange smell of fire was all over. The lights switched on and off constantly. Papers from the floor started floating.
We hid in terror. It seemed as if a troop of ZOMBIES was coming towards the motel. All we could do was pray for a short night.
The next morning we found our selves sleeping besides our car on the parking lot. The motel was nowhere to be seen. Our only clue of its existence was the blankets. We told ourselves that it was haunted. Believe it or not!
The End
The Zombie Frogs
By Jessica, age 12, Arkansas, USA
There are a lot of frogs in Greenwood, Arkansas. Every night you could hear the frogs while going to sleep. That night, though, the frogs were louder than ever and making stranger "ribbots" than usual. Some people liked to leave their bedroom windows open so they can listen to the frogs. Joan Quinn said, "I wonder why the frogs sound so strange tonight." Her window was open.
The next day someone found Joan dead and called the police. All the police found was a little bite on the back of her right hand. Another victim was found later with the same bite in the same place.
Every day there was another victim. People had noticed that the frogs still sounded strange. They were also getting bigger, but no one thought much of it.
While the police were searching for a clue to the mysterious deaths, they found an ugly, crazy looking old man. He was having a slug sandwich and saying, "Slugs are very good for you. You fellas ain't lookin' so well; maybe you should have some, too."
Weeks went by, and more and more deaths occurred. Loni, a girl in Greenwood and Joan's next-door neighbor, was spying on the old man.
"Tomorrow is Halloween!" he yelled. "Come, my zombie frogs. Tomorrow night you shall feast!" Loni was afraid, and she told the police what had happened as soon as she could.
It was a small town, and soon everyone knew of the ugly old man. On Halloween night, no one at all trick-or-treated. They were too afraid of the zombie frogs. Police secretly guarded every house.
Suddenly there was a cackle from one of the houses. An officer left his post to see what had happened. While he was gone, his house was unguarded. A cackle was heard from that house. People in both houses and two officers were dead. Each had the same strange bite on their hand. Now they knew it was the old man and the frogs that were committing the murders. There was no death warning because you could hear the frogs everywhere.
The police kept trailing the man and the frogs house to house, death to death. Finally, a policeman found a pattern the man was using. They were able to reach the next house just before him. After a struggle, they caught the old man. Three policemen died trying to kill the frogs. They forced the old man to tell how many frogs there were. He replied, "Twelve, but you'll never be able to kill them." All twelve frogs, however, were found in the house and finally killed.
The old man went to trial, and the judge decided he should be in an insane asylum. They found out he was concerned the frogs would starve, so he taught a dozen of them to drink blood. He had hoped these would teach the others.
He was never heard from again, but people in Greenwood, Arkansas, don't leave their windows open even to this day.
The Animal Friends
By Liana & Dominic, age 8 & 6, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Once upon a time, there was a bear named Cubbie. He wanted to go to the park and go on a walk. So he decided to go the long way to the park because it was like a walk. On the way, Cubbie met a cat named Amber. Amber said, "What is your name?"
"My name is Cubbie," said the bear.
"Where are you going?" The cat asked.
"I'm going to the park. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes, I would love to go to the park."
So Amber hopped on Cubbie's back and they were on their way.
Soon, they met up with a dog named Doby. He said, "What is your name?"
"Our names are Cubbie and Amber." Then Cubbie said "Would you like to come with us to the park?"
"Yes, I would be happy to. Thank you." So the three of them began to go to the park.
After a long time Doby noticed a duck swimming in a lake. The duck was named Quackers. So the three of them said their names, Cubbie, Amber, and Doby. Then they told the Duck to join them at the park. So Quackers went on Doby's back, and they were on their way again.
They had to walk around the pond so they could get to the other side, because there was no bridge. When they were half way around the pond, they saw a swan. "Hello swan," said the duck. "Our names are Cubbie, Amber, Doby, and Quackers. What is yours?" "Mine is Gracie. Nice to meet you, but where are you going?"
"We are going to the park," said Doby. Now they were around the pond and they were at a farm. There, they met a frog who was sitting by a puddle, saying "Croak." Then he turned to them and said, "What do you need?"
"Well, we wanted to see if you would like to join us at the park. The bear is Cubbie, the cat is Amber, the dog Doby and the duck is Quackers, and the swan is. What is your name?"
"Mine is Smoochy." So all of them moved on. Then they noticed a big plump pig, whose name was Squeeler. They said to him, "Would you care to join us at the park?"
"Oh, I would love to, but first let me get a snack."
"We can see the rest of the farm while we wait for you, but before we go I think we should say our names," said Gracie. " I am Cubbie," said Cubbie in a low voice. "I am Amber," said Amber, showing off. "You can't forget me! I am Doby, the wonderful dog."
"That's enough Doby. My name is Quackers and that's Gracie. Gracie! Don't drink the ox's water! He'll kill you!"
"You already know me," said the frog. "So let's get on our way to see the rest of the farm!" So off they went. They saw a donkey, but he didn't want to come, and they skipped the ox because he'd kill Gracie, so they went to the barn. There, they met a cow named Daisy who came with them, and they met two handsome and beautiful horses named Black Beauty, a boy, and White Beauty. But White Beauty could not come because of the baby she was going to have. Then Cubbie said, "Can you come Black Beauty?"
"Oh yes, I can come, as long as I can get back at around six o' clock." So they agreed that he would be back soon. Then they went to pick up Squeeler, and they were glad he was done with his snack. Then they went to the park. When they finally they got there, Gracie and Quackers went to the swing while Cubbie went on the slide. Smoochy went on the monkey bars. Squeeler went on the tire-swing, and then decided he wanted to jump through. Black Beauty wanted to run, so when everybody was bored they played baseball. After that, the animal friends went home.
Before they went to their different houses, the friends decided that they would meet together tomorrow for another fun time with the animal friends.
The Two Dachshunds
By Roseanne, age 11, Westwood Basics Plus School, Irvine, CA, USAOnce there was a Dachshund named Oscar, and he was a light- brown Dachshund. He loved to play all day, but since he was a stray, he had to avoid the pound truck all the time.
As he walked back on Diamond Alley, he spotted Ms. Welt, the bossy Maine Coon. "How are you, Oscar, you little twit?" She asked.
"Oh I'm fine." Oscar replied, holding on to his anger.
Oscar walked deeper into the alley, and spotted the Mutt family. There was a female Jack Russell, Smax, and her husband the Chihuahua, Pepe, and their three puppies.
"How do, Oscar?" Pepe asked.
"Fine." Oscar replied.
"Hi, Uncy Oscar." Pinty, the youngest puppy said.
"How are ya?" the middle- aged one, Sarah, asked.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" the oldest one, Mak said smiling.
Oscar grinned.
" Bye, Oscar!" Smax called as Oscar left.
Oscar went back to his "pack". There was Milo, the frisky Cocker Spaniel, Chico the clumsy Great Dane, and Mira, the Irish Setter. "Hey ya, Oscar!" Milo said, slapping his paw against his back.
"Fine." Oscar moaned.
"Ooooooo. Oscar's love struck again." Mira cooed, "with that Dachshund Amber, the house pet?".
"Yeah," Oscar sighed tiredly.
"Oh." Chico said in his deep voice.
Oscar walked down Walnut Shell, up to house 149, to see his love. Oscar looked up through the window, balancing on his short little legs and his long body. Amber popped out of the window.
"What are you doing here? Butch will come any minute!" Amber said, who also liked Oscar back.
"Butch?!" Oscar squealed. Butch was a nasty Pittbull who loved Amber, and Amber hated him. Butch despised (Hated) Oscar.
Butch came strolling down the path carrying a bone that the Dachshunds gasped at the size at.
"Oh!" Amber gasped. But, instead of what she thought (Which was he gave it to her,) he sat down and ate it himself. "Want to come, Ambie?" He asked, in his slobby voice.
"Hmph." Amber stuck her nose in the air, disgusted.
Oscar, who had his bone behind his back, showed Amber the small bone.
Amber came out. "It isn't much," Oscar said, "but it's yours."
"Oh Oscar, my sweetie!" Amber gasped.
"Hey! She's my girlfriend!" Butch snorted, crushing the bone.
"No she isn't! She doesn't even like you!"
Butch leapt at Oscar, and they started a major fight. If Amber's owner hadn't come to his rescue he would have been dead.
"Shoo! Shoo, you ugly beast!" Amber's owner, Mrs. Millack shouted at Butch. "Oh you poor thing." She said, picking up Oscar.
She led the dogs in and she adopted Oscar.
The End
The Bet
By Jeremy, age 16, Lewisville High School, Lewisville, Texas, USAI usually don't take bets anymore, I thought that they were a little childish, but when my best friend bet me I wouldn't go into a house, which was suppose to be haunted, and stay there for five minutes I just couldn't refuse. I mean how much better of a set up do need to scare someone out of their mind. A large old house on the outskirts of a small town with a dark night overhead. It was too perfect, at least that was what I thought.
Sam didn't like to loose bets so if I was guessing right he would have someone all ready in the house waiting to scare me out once I walked in. But what if I turned the joke around on him and had someone outside waiting to scare him. What if I paid a kid to dress up as a ghost and jump out from a tree and scare him. As the plan took shape in my head I was all ready thinking about what I would say to him the next day at school. I would say something along the lines of hey do you want me to call the Ghostbusters for you?
Now the million dollar question was, which poor sap he would get from school to scare me. The person used could make or break a good scare. He wouldn't want to go after Will Dull, because he was the biggest wimp to walk the face of the Earth. He lets his four year old sister beat up on him at his age of nine. The person I would recruit for this mission would be, Dillian Fry. A muscular kid with the speed of Barry Sanders and the hiding ability of a mouse. He would be the perfect person to scare me. Now that I know who it will be I need to know how to convince him not to do it. Money might work but Dillian was a man of the Spiderman cards. He would want some cards for his trouble. That was no problem getting him the cards, the problem was getting to him before tonight.
I met up Dillian at the play ground and slipped him the newest pack of Spiderman cards at the Gas station, but he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about when I told him not to come tonight.
I selected Timmy Green to be my Ghost for the evening. He was a fifth grader with hair on his face. He could scare his own parents so scaring Sam wouldn't be a problem. But he asked for money, a lot. He wanted fifteen dollars and free launches for a week. Who was I to argue, all I wanted was to see Sam's face in a state of Panic.
When the night dropped over the small town and the mothers and fathers pulled their kids off the street for diner, Sam and I went to Old Man Wilson's house on the outside of town. The house was like one I had read out of a book one time. Two stories with a balcony around the second. The wood was as old as dirt and the front door was being held together by the spider webs in the corners. It was the perfect place for a good scare.
"Ready," he asked me as we started up the driveway.
"I'm ready to win my twenty dollars," I replied as he stopped and watched as I went up to the door.
"Good luck," he said with a little smirk.
As I walked into the house I was met by the worst smell I have every smelt. The smell of rat droppings mixed with some sort of odor I couldn't place. I took a quick look around to see a staircase on the right side of the entrance lobby, a dining room on the left of the lobby, and a living room on the right. The place looked like a bed and breakfast I had stayed at once in Toronto.
The time was running and I didn't have a problem yet with the house, that didn't mean I wasn't scared. My heart was racing and my palms and neck felt like a river. At least I was fine until I heard a telephone ring from the living room. I remember my eyes grew wide as I started towards the noise. In a house that was suppose to be vacant and undisturbed for forty years there was a ringing from a telephone.
When I picked the phone up to hear a voice I didn't know my first intention was to hang up, but then the deep strange voice said, "are by the kitchen?"
I turned to my right and looked straight through an opened archway to see a dark kitchen with knives and pans hanging from the ceiling.
My response was a low yes in a little squeaky voice.
"Leave now! Get out of the house before it's too late!" yelled the voice from the other end.
I didn't have to be told twice to get out. I started on a mad sprint to the door where I found what Sam's little trick was going to scare me with. He locked the door.
"Open the door!" I yelled as I started to kick the ever living crap out of it.
"What's that I can't hear you," he replied through the door with a little giggle.
"Open the doo-," I was interrupted by footsteps in the kitchen.
The pans and the knives then fell to the floor causing a terrible noise throughout the house. I still couldn't see what made the noise but I didn't want to. All I wanted to do was leave and leave quickly.
I don't remember anything else about that night but I do remember that when I awoke I wasn't in my bed, or a hospital bed, I was in a cold green tiled room that was referred to as, the morgue. My name is Zack Baker, and I took a bet one day.
Rock star
By Joe, Wallingford, UKI used to pass people,
they used to shout,
we used to bring in 850,000
now just 250but still when I'm there
its the same old feeling
just the one
it's beautiful
Lucky charm
By Kate, age 8, Solihull, EnglandThere was once a girl called Lucy . she was tall with brown hair and she was very pretty and she was 15. Her best friend Ellie gave her a lucky charm witch was made of glass .It was light blue and white. Ellie told her that if you hold it tight and warm it up and make a wish it would come true so Lucy tried it at once .First she wished that she would have five house points at the end the day she got 5HP! What luck! So in English she wished that every girl in her class wanted to be her best friend so at the end of the day she got four gel pens ,two CDs and some rings. When she got home she immediately ran up to her bedroom and wish that they would win the lottery . Then blue smoke filed the room air shot out charm and out popped a genie and said that whenever somebody makes this wish he would take the charm away so Lucy had no lucky charm.
Popcorn Poetry
By LaKeva, age 9, Year 4th, Lynn Haven Elementary School, Lynn Haven, Florida, USAPopcorn, popcorn in the air,
I think I see it everywhere.I put it in my mouth,
It is really yummy,
I chew it up and swallow it,
It goes right to my tummy.
She
By Allyson, age 11, Year Grade 6, Saint Luke's School, Brooklyn, New YorkShe is boring
Lackadaiscal, narcissistic and spoiled
I envy her
How The Ham Sandwich was Invented
By Liberty, age 13, Tarboro, NC USAOnce there was a cat in a hat on the back of a flat truck. He was singing with a duck that didn't have a buck. A little boy came by with a toy. The cat in the hat and the duck without a buck didn't know what to think of the boy with a toy.
a few days later they say a gater with a grater walking in the cheese store. He walked in the store and said," Mr. Fish, with a dish of pink ham I need cheese!"
But Mr. Fish knew of no cheese as awesome as ham. He ran out side and said, "What cheese would compare to a slice of pink ham? If you can tell, you may have ham and TURKEY.... MY treat!"
Everyone came rushing from stores, cars stopped and they all came rushing out. The cat in the hat said," Swiss for a Miss Gater with a grater would be superb!"
All was silent and suddenly duck without a buck said," If Ms. Gater with a grater was any later, Mozzarella would have been an appetizing treat!"
Everyone agreed with them both, but still there was something better than Swiss. Everyone grew quiet with the idea of the best cheese.
Moose who knew a goose yelled," How about make our own cheese! Put cheddar, American, Swiss, Feta, ricotta, AND mozzarella in it."
There was complete shock in the eyes of everyone. Then, "Mix the cheese. Mix the cheese. Mix the CHEESE. Mix the CHEESE! MIX THE CHEESE!!" Everyone was chanting to mix the cheese.
Mr Fish ran inside and cut every kind of cheese he had and out and put it on a plate. When he got done with the many varieties, the pile of cheese was so high that he had to stand in a chair to reach the top.
Everyone outside was waiting for Mr. Fish to get done and he finally came out and yelled, "IT is IMPOSSIBLE to fit all of the cheeses into one sandwich!"
The crowd spread in silence as people were filled with a challenging loss. Then Miss Gater with a grater said, "If the ham is so good for any cheese, maybe ham itself is good enough!"
The Room
By Joe, age 14, Year 9, Wallingford School, Wallingford, UKI lay there on my back, cold, wet and hungry. Chained up tightly and hardly able to move. The constant dripping of water echo's round the cave, drip, drip, drip the same rhythm never quickening or slowing just permanently fixed as though it was a song sent from the devil to torment me. The wind howls as it enters the cave and crosses my face chilling me all over, making me shake.
It's getting darker by the minute; soon the only thing I'll be able to see will be the thoughts that cross my mind to remind me why I'm here. He will soon come again, almost to the same moment every day. I can almost count down to the minute he will scramble up the small slope that brings him up to the cave where I lay and take out his demonic equipment to start another operation.
Still the dripping continues, relentless in its rhythm, drip, drip, drip. Will it never stop and give me just a moment's peace. The chains cut into my already ruined arms and legs and the wet gets into every one of my joints making them ache and burn constantly. The cold is no better it seems to reach down into your throat and lungs and twist them until every breath is like swallowing a thorn bush or a burr.
Already its pitch black and all I know now is that the rocks in every corner are still there and the dripping continues. Anything else that happens in the cave is just another sound in the eternity of night. Soon it will get lighter again and that's when he comes. He comes in not saying a word and carries out the procedure that he has practiced to perfection. First comes the knife, shining and glinting in the light, newly cleaned every day as though it was his prize possession. He wipes it one last time with the bright red cloth and then gets out the glass that he uses to collect the blood. He makes cuts to my arms and legs and collects the blood into the glass until it is full. He then wipes off the knife then places it back into its holster with careful precision. Then he raises the glass up to his mouth and drinks the blood bit by bit with a steady pace until it is all gone with me forced to stare at him. He never speaks a word and after he has finished he gives me a measly slice of stale bread and a glass of dirty water. He can't let me die because then he'll have to find another victim.
I still remember the day when I first got here, though I can't remember how long ago it was, it was cold and I ventured into the cave for shelter out of the rain. It was then I was knocked on the head and woke up chained to the damp, cold floor. I thought about when I would get out for the first couple of weeks, surely someone would come for me. But now I just think about when I will finally die.
The pitch black is disturbed by something like a stone rippling on a clear lake surface. Was it he? No. It couldn't be. My counting wasn't that far off.
I lay staring for a moment for any sign of the pitch-black shadows to be disturbed once more, but nothing happened, nothing at all.
The dripping continued but it seemed to be slowing, not to the untrained ear, but to me, who has been here listening to this dripping for well over six months it was a significant change that I noticed straight away. It also seemed to be getting warmer, again only slightly but it was a welcome relief to my insides as the cold loosened its grip.
Then a white flash no more than a thousandth of a second long came and went like a fairy in the night. "Hello?"
My voice was dry and almost like a whisper, I realized I must have gone six months without saying a word.
"Hello," I said again.
I must be seeing things; I was finally losing it, which filled me with happiness, as it was the first signs of death creeping up on me, not long now.
But I wasn't seeing things because there it was again bigger and whiter this time. It filled the room with warmth and light for only a second and in the flash I saw a figure standing over me.
It was only for a second but it seemed like an eternity, the face peered into my eyes filling me with strength and warmth and suddenly I was able to break free of the chains with all the ease of putting a knife through butter. My joints were warmed and healed of all their pain and aching and I was dried from head to toe. I felt like a new man and that every one of my worries were gone. I stared the figure in the eyes and as I did I was filled with sorrow, for years of suffering and pain flashed across my mind. The long sad face stared back at me his hands and feet bleeding from wounds and as tears rolled from my eyes the figure vanished in a flash and the warmth and light slowly retreated into the corners of the cave and the cold and dark over took once again.
As I stood there, cold starting to get to me once more, I was filled with many questions. Who was that figure? Would I ever see him again? How long would it be before my captor realized I had escaped and started to look for me?
I would find the answers to these questions.
One day.
Memories of Max
By Jenna, age 13, The Montclair Kimberley Academy School, West Orange, NJ, USAPeople and animals we love always have to die. Some die when they have not even lived long at all. That is what happened to Max, my cat.
Max's mother was left in a basket on the steps of my veterinarian's office in a blizzard. The next day the nurse found the cat and brought her in from the cold. The cat was shivering and skinny. That day she gave birth to five kittens. A few weeks later my family drove to the vet's office because Silky, our cat, needed a check up.
When we noticed a sign that said "Free Kitten", we asked if we could see it. The nurse brought out a little male. He had a big tummy for such a small thing and she told us that he loved to eat! He was a tabby with white markings and had a half-pink and half-black nose. We all thought that he was so cute. Everybody in my family wanted him. So what did we do? Of course, we took him home.
Max ate and ate and grew and grew and he was as gentle as could be. He always wanted to play with Silky. If Silky was on my bed, he would jump up on the bed, put both paws around her neck and start licking her. He would also chase her. Silky found him extremely annoying. If there was company over, Max was underfoot.
If everyone was in one room, he was there. If somebody was in the kitchen, he was definitely there! All he wanted to do was eat. Max would gulp his food and Silky's. That is why he grew so fat. He would get into the craziest positions, such as sunbathing with his stomach up and legs spread out. He loved to do things like that. Max would usually only purr for me because I made him happy. His purr was so soft I could barely hear it. Max's meow didn't seem to fit his body either. It was high pitched and soft. Max also liked to play with his toy mice which were furry and looked real. When guests came over Max would fetch one, carry it in his mouth, and drop it at their feet.
Then Max became sick. He was two and a half years old when he developed what appeared to be a bad cold, runny nose, and had difficulty breathing. He wasn't happy. One of his eyes became cloudy and we weren't sure if he could see out of it. Over time it became red and according to the vet he could only see shadows. My parents had to give him all different kinds of medicines. He was given pills, eye drops, and an oral medication four times a day. My parents didn't mind. They loved him so much and they wanted him to get better. He even traveled with us on three vacations. He stayed in our hotel rooms so that my parents would be able to give him his daily medicine. Little by little he showed signs of slight improvement and seemed to be his old self.
But by spring he started looking very thin and we began to worry. The trips to the vet became more frequent and Max began to show signs of a certain cat disease that was incurable and deadly. It was now almost eight months since Max first became sick. Every day I would come home and the first thing I would say was, "How's Max today?"
We weren't sure what was wrong with Max. We didn't know whether it was Cancer or FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). We thought it FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) or cancer . We thought it was more likely FIP,
but we were not sure. The thing that was so bad about Max having FIP is that it is incurable and always leads to death.
One day Max was so sick that again we had to take him to the veterinarian. He could barely walk and he had stopped eating. The veterinarian asked if Max could stay the night so that they could do a test. The next day my father answered a call from the veterinarian concerning Max. He had died in his sleep that night. You can't imagine how much grief we all felt. It took us the longest time to realize he was not coming back. I would walk into my room and expect to see Max sitting on my chair. I would then remember that he was not there.
There will never be another Max, just like there won't be another you or me. Max had a personality that was unique. He was really a member of our family.
We had Max cremated. We have a special box containing his ashes and his name engraved on it. We always think of him. I have a two-page list of all the things I miss about him. I also have an entire album of only his pictures. We have folders of his medical papers and pictures of him around the house. Although Max lived with us for only a short time, it was worth it. He made us happy. He gave us so much love. I'll never forget his funny little face and cute habits. I'll treasure the time we had with him and always remember how he made my life be.
Herbie
By Daniella, age 9, Neve Oz School, IsraelI once had a dog. his name was Herbie. he was all black except for a little white mark on his chest. he had floppy ears and sad brown eyes. my brother always said that Herbie was stooped. but I think that some were in the back of Herbie's mind he had a story. a story about his life. and when he would die he would tell his story to the one he loves.
we found Herbie wandering the streets. my mom always said that he was brought here by another dog. but I didn't believe that. I think that he was thrown out of his house when he was 4 months old. well, as you might guess we decided to keep him. dad wasn't too happy about that. he said that it's too much of a responsibility. but I didn't care.
the only thing that was bothering me was that we had a cat. and as you all know, cats and dogs don't go well together (nor does dads and dogs but that doesn't matter).
when Herbie had come home from the vet on the first day that he was staying with us he ate everything that was in site. of course we thought that he was just starved. because, he was a street dog. but as time passed we found out that he was just one of those dogs who doesn't know when he's supposed to stop. well any way, it was near the holidays. so when are grandparents came over they were not too pleased to see Herbie there. he kept licking their knees.
finally when we started eating a disaster happened which knocked all hope of keeping Herbie out of me. While we were eating I noticed Herbie sitting there not doing anything (which is odd because he always does something). then I said "look" something brown and gooey was coming out of Herbie's bum! Herbie was just sitting there, his brown eyes staring sadly into space, and a pool of poo! Dad got really mad and said we had to through the dog out. after we cleaned the mess up we finished dinner and we all went to bed.
after three days of having poo all over the garden I went down stairs too get ready for school and some very sad news met my ears. Herbie had been taken away by the police saying that Herbie bitten a little girl and they think he has rabies. what a bunch of idiots! I mean you can always tell when a dog has rabies. and wasn't it obvious that he was just playing? he was just a puppy! I cried the hole way to school. then after nine days of waiting we met a women who told us that we have to get the dog the next day other wise they'll kill him.
so on Saturday I was forced to close my book of Harry Potter because I heard barks from out side. I ran up the stairs and called "is Herbie hear?" and I was greeted by a lot of muffled barks.
we gave him a bath ('cause he really stunk) and then my nanny, Helain, put baby powder on him! she said it was the only way to get the smell off.
so he stayed with us another day and then we were going to go on a vacation so we asked the women ,who told us that we had to get the dog, to keep him for five days because we were going to Jordan. she took care of him willingly (even though she had 10 dogs and 20 cats.) and named him moody. (I personally think that moody is the stupidest name I ever heard and doesn't deserve a capital letter)
when we got home from our trip we learned that Herbie was very sick and couldn't come home until he's well again. and in the mean time the women offered to look for people who will want to keep him because we couldn't keep him. so one day after three miserable weeks with out Herbie, he came to visit. the women brought him and said we couldn't take him because he was still a bit sick.
after another week we got a call from the women saying that we have to take care of Herbie for ten days. ten absolutely fantastic days. dad got really mad about that one and refused to talk to mom for the rest of the ten days. but I don't care.
so now Herbie is with us on the second day of the ten days. and my cat is really mad about that too.
so now I'm sitting at the computer and writing all this down with my cat at my side. mewling every now and then for some attention.
Haiku
By Rajni and Holly, age 9, Year 4, Raddlebarn J & I School, Birmingham, UK
At Night, by Holly
The glittering sky,
the very silver river
and the trees moving.Fruit, by Rajni
Berries grow on trees,
people eat juicy apples.
Monkeys eat salads.
I Never Knew This Would Happen
By Barbie, age 13, FraminghamI Never Knew This Would Happen--a story about a girl who became a slave
On Friday, while I was walking back home from school, a boat arrived, a boat that would change my life forever. I was nieve, and only reaching 7 years, so I sneaked onto the boat. The boat was the biggest I've ever seen, so big, that I thought everybody living in my village could fit in it. A man with the color of a peach boarded the boat. he was speaking a language I've never thought existed. I snuck behind him, and entered what seemed to be the captain's headquarters. I knew a lot about boats, they were one of the most clever things made.
Another day has passed, and my stomach was filled with hunger. I decided that I would go explore the ship, and find some food. When I reached to the bottom, I couldn't believe my eyes. Two hundred and seventy-five people were tied up to the base of the boat. I kindly asked them why they were here, tied in chains. They could only speak one word, captured. At this word, I was terrified, who would do such a thing do my people. I told them to stay calm, that I would bring each and every one of them food and drinks. They thanked with cries of joy, and warned me not to talk to those who had white skin. They were the ones who treated them like animals.
An hour has past, and I have finally found what I was looking for; lots of bread and clean water. It took 6 hours just to pass out the bread. By that time, the guard came. I was passing water when I felt a hand on my shoulder. The guard used a loud voice, that signaled me to run. I was up on the stairs until the worst thing happened. He took a switch and grabbed me by the buttocks. The force hurt so much, that drops of water filled my tears. The put me on an extra space on the ground, and tied me in..........chains.
I was yelling with fear, but no-one was able to help me. A few days have passed, and we still haven't reached land. Sixty Africans caught the cough, and then perished. The crew members just threw them overboard!!
Forty days have past since the time I climbed onto the boat. We have reached land! We are what the colonists call slaves. I was sold to Mr. James, he is rather nice. he treats me to candy when I finish my work. Mr. James has a daughter, the same age as me. She plays with me when I get everything done. My life was fairly good, until I reached my 17th birthday. I saw someone's master beat up their slaves. That was when I started to work against slavery.
After the Civil War, we got our freedom, and that's how I am here today, as Mrs. Jillian Jacobs.
Pokemon is great
(By Riley, age 10, Year 6, Coleridge Primary School, London, England)
Chocolate is so Yummy
By Laura-Jayne, age 12, Year 7, Colbaynes High School. School, Essex (U.K)Chocolate is so yummy.
It really fills my tummy.
No need for peas.
Or mustard seeds.
Cause they are so scummy.I love Chocolate so much.
I would have it for my lunch.
Munch, munch, munch.....
I Love Monkeys
By Laura Potter, age 11, Year 7, Colbaynes High School, U.K Clacton-on-seaI just love Monkeys don't you?
The way they run in the zoo.
The way they play.
Every day.
I wish I had a monkey.
It would be really funky.
"Hitler Will Never Win"
By Haley, Wawasee School, Milford, IN, USAAs I hear the screams
echo through the night,
my body trembles
with familiar frightThe air raids get louder
and the Nazis draw near,
the screams and cries
growing more severeWhen they pound on the door,
my heart skips a beat
when I see who it is,
I jump to my feetI cry for my family
as we are taken away
"Keep them safe"
I repeatedly prayThat was the last time
I saw my family alive
They, unfortunately,
did not surviveAs I am a victim,
and witness of Hitler
I ask you friend,
to always rememberDon't let this crime
ever happen again
Hitler and the Nazis
must never win
WHAT I THINK
By Rena, age 12, Year 7, Yorkshire Martyrs School, Bradford West Yorkshire, UKMy life is brill
When I do well
My life is ace
When I have fun
My life is great
When I pass my tests
My life can be boring
When I do not have much to do
My life could be hell
If I had nothing to doIF I DO WELL AT SCHOOL I WILL FIND LIFE EASY AND FILLING MY DREAMS.
To EXIT again and again
By Leisa + Beth, age 11, Year 7, St Flannans School, Zillmere, Brisbane, AustraliaOnce upon a time there were 2 girls. Their names were Beth and Leisa. They were at Writer's Club. Leisa was designing an Exit sign and Beth was laughing at her. Then Beth read what Leisa had wrote. She said it again and again and again. This is what she said: "Once upon a time there were 2 girls. Their names were Beth and Leisa. They were at Writer's Club. Leisa was designing an Exit sign and Beth was laughing at her. Then Beth read what Leisa had wrote. She said it again and again and again. This is what she said: Once upon a time there were 2 girls. Their names were Beth and Leisa. They were at Writer's Club. Leisa was designing an Exit sign and Beth was laughing at her. Then Beth read what Leisa had wrote. She said it again and again and again. This is what she said: Once upon a time there were 2 girls. Their names were Beth and Leisa. They were at Writer's Club. Leisa was designing an Exit sign and Beth was laughing at her. Then Beth read what Leisa had wrote. She said it again and again and again. This is what she said............"
The Mysterious Wood
By Laura, age 12, Year 7, Colbaynes High School. School, Clacton-on-sea, UKEllie and Matthew were brother and sister. They had just moved to a small village in Essex called Hampton Village. Down the end of their road was a very large wood. Ellie was 11 and Matthew was 12.
"Mum can me and Ellie go in the woods. Please?"
"I don't know. O.K but only if you look after Ellie and don't be to long. O.K?"
"Thanks mum. See you later."
Matthew ran to the woods with Ellie close behind him.
"Wait up Matthew!"
"Come on you slow coach!"
When they finally reached the woods...
"Ellie I'll race you to that big tree."
"O.K but don't go too fast cause then I won't win!"
"O.K 1...2...3..go!"Matthew shouted.
Then all of a sudden Ellie stopped dead in her tracks.
"Matthew!!!!" She yelled.
"What? Why have you stopped? Is something wrong?"
"Didn't you hear it?"
"Hear what?"
"That really loud bang. Ohhh Matthew I want to go home I don't like it here!."
"O.K if we must. Come on then get up. Right which way is it?"
"I don't know. You're the one that's mad about all that Geography stuff. You tell me. You do know don't you?"
It was getting dark. Matthew and Ellie were lost.
"Matthew we have to get out of here! What shall we do?"
"I don't know Ellie. What are we going to do?"
"HELP!!!!"
When I Go On A School Journey I'll Take
By Rosie And Sherene, Age 11, Coleridge Primary School, Crouch End, London, England.Austrian amphibians,
which attack the bulging baboons,
bulging baboons,
which batter crazy cuckaburoos,
crazy cuckaburoos,
which charm the devilish dragons,
devilish dragons,
which dine on elaborate eels,
elaborate eels,
which electrecute frolicking foxes,
frolicking foxes,
which frighten genteel goblins,
genteel goblins,
which gather the hooligan hippo's mess,
hooligan hippos,
which harass the innocent iguanas,
innocent iguanas,
which idolise the jerky jellyfish,
jerky jellyfish,
which jellify chronic kangaroos,
chronic kangaroos,
which kill loving lovebirds,
loving lovebirds,
which long to be manic marmasets,
manic marmasets,
which muddle up nasty newts,
nasty newts,
which nibble on the obtuse octopus's,
obtuse octopus's,
which organise the petrified penguins,
petrified penguins,
which pierce the quarelling quail's ears,
quarelling quails,
which quench the ravenous rabbit's thirst,
ravenous rabbits,
which rattle the shells of the slow snails,
slow snails,
which slither on the territorial turtles,
territorial turtles,
which take up the space of the unruly umbrella birds,
unruly umbrella birds,
which unravel the vile vultures presents,
vile vultures,
which vomit on wild whales,
wild whales,
which whine at the xenephobic x-monsters,
xenephobic x-monsters,
which play their xylophone at the yawning yaks,
yawning yaks,
which yodel at the zany zebra,
zany zebra jumps in to the suitcase last and everything is well packed up.
When I go on School Journey
By Jessie, age 11, Year 6, Coleridge Primary School, Crouch End, LondonWhen I go on School Journey I will bring
an angry, anteating army
Who will march behind the
barmy, bonkers, banana band
Who will play to the
corny, cocky, cramped cocktail
Who will be drank by the
diving, dangerous, doodling ducks
Who will splash and splosh in front the
elegant, electronic, elderly eel
Who will electrocute the
flipping, furious, fighting flamingo
Which will stalk and stamp on the
grinded, gushing goblins
Who will juggle and jump on the
hollow, hockey-playing, happy holidaymaking hairballs
Who were coughed up by the
informal, inhuman igloos
Who will fidget and fight over the
jutting, judging, jocking jumbo jet
Who will rumble and roll after the
kicking, keen, kinky kaleidoscope
Who will look and stare at the
lagging, lame, looping lemon
Who will struggle and strain to serve the
machine-reading, mouldy, male mango
Who will squeeze and squash the
nesting, nervous next-door neighbour
Who will who will whimper and whine behind the
objective, oblong, offside ointment
Who will wipe and wash the
plucky, plugging, plopping, PVC pygmy
who will pick and prod the
quacky, quivering Quaker
Who will duck and dodge the
ragged, rampaging, random, rubber, red ripple
Who will shimmer and shine beneath the
scheming, shooling scrambling, squashed seagull
Who will circle the
tackling, tubby trump
Who will tease and sneer at the
uncanny, uncertain undercurrent
Who will sweep and swish at the
vanishing, variable vanilla-tasting van
Who will catch and carry the
woolen wally-watching wellies
Who will rubble and bubble at the sight of
yanking, yelling Yankee
Who shall moan and groan at the
zigzagging, zero zombie.
A Season That No One Knows
Rebecca, age 10, Year 5th Grade, Our Lady of Fatima School, Florissant, MO USAA season that no one knows
But me
I can imagine it
Frogs jump through the two feet snow
Clouds live on the ground
Trees live in the sky
Flowers dance around me
The sun is full of darkness
And a cave is full of light
It's a dream I have at night
A season that no one knows
I can't wait for bed tonight!
Party
By Joe, age 14, Year 9, Wallingford School, WallingfordSmoke hits you in the face and you end up without knowing it stinking of the stuff.
Alcohol swims through your blood stream and makes you underestimate what you do.
All over the place there are people almost unconscious, this is a result of an overdose of smoke alcohol loud music and the occasional tongue down your throat.
The incredibly loud music is added to by the bitch fights that start in corners here and there.
overenthusiastic dancers knock people over and cause outright chaos.
people make new friends and break old ones in the fight for a quick snog.
punchdrunk boys fall about thinking they are still looking cool.
the heat increases and people start dropping like flies.but still the music plays.
Conservation Poem
By Eleanor, 9, Stanford Junior School, Brighton, EnglandThe forest is a beautiful place
it should not be ruined
the forest is a wondrous place
parrots and monkeys and chimps
all dwell in the forest
all live in the forest
depend on the forest
if one tree falls
by fault of wind
or mankind
you could kill hundreds
if not thousands
of living things
which all, every one of them
depend on that one tree
you are destroying life
by chopping one tree
Conservation
By Claire, 9, Stanford Junior School, Brighton, England
The forest is pretty,
The forest is full,
Especially with animals,
All bright not dull,
Butterflies and cheetahs,
And howler monkeys and birds,
So don't go round,
Chopping things down,
You could kill all the animals,
Like butterflies and cheetahs,
And howler monkeys and birds,
Or death could invade the forest.
It was my turn next
By Kelly, London, UKIt was my turn next!
I was next in line. I wondered what lied ahead of me, was I doing the right thing?. As I took another step I heard screaming and shouting. Did I dare to take another step into the on known. I stepped forward and to my amazement a green blob was plopped on my plate. " Ah jelly my favourite."
A Mother
By Lauren, age 12, Dawson School, Longmont, CO, US
A mother who will hold me tight
A mother who kisses me goodnight
A mother who makes everything alright.A mother who will help me grow
A mother who will never go
A mother there to help me cry
A mother to make the hurt go, by and by.A mother always there to talk to
A mother who comes, as if on cue
A mother who always knows just what to do.This is my mother
A mother with love,
And I am her daughter,
A daughter with love.
21st Century
By Amna, age 12, Army Public School, Askari Colony, Sialkot, Cantt, Pakistan
In this century,
no cricketer will be able to make a double century.
Pollution, pollution
will be the discussion everywhere
or something else will have an explosion with it.
Food will be electronic.
Cars will be supersonic.
This century will indeed be introducing
new styles,
followed by old trials.
Boys will be devious.
Girls will be mischievous.
New inventions
or explosions
will occur in the scientists' lab
or people will start liking
crabs.
I hope ozone layer is alright &
her future is bright.
Will this century be a threat?
Or something extraordinary?
Will we be ahead
or
still lying in bed
depending on
America.
The Sun is God's Sombrero
By Elen, age 11, London, England, Great Britain
The Sun is God's sombrero,
He wears it out at night
Then brings it back, when darkness lacks,
To give us morning light.The shooting stars are fireworks
Who hardly ever show.
They fly everywhere, without a care,
The colours of the rainbow.The Moon is but a mirror,
Reflecting everything.
She hates the days, nights when she plays,
She's married to the King.The stars are explosives,
Always looking for a fight.
They give abuse, and then their fuse
Burns down and they alight,
BANG!!!
You're so special
By Mary, age 16
You are my light on the dullest of all days,
you have delighted me in so many ways,
every rose, every kiss will always belong to you,you've given the whole world to me,
even the pretty sky so blue,
I sit and watch the stars so bright,
sweet smell of flowers remind me of you,
good memories of us I will cherish forever,
and in my heart I will always remember you.
A Rose
By Sarah, age 12, Easton CT, USA
They walk along the boardwalk,
Standing hand in hand.
The salty sea breeze surrounds them,
Engulfing them in a cloud of mist.
He stops and leans over,
And gives her a kiss,
A kiss, a single innocent, pure sweet kiss.
He hands he a rose,
One single rose,
Fresh picked from the bush,
Whose sweet smell fills the night air.
The moonlight reflects off it,
giving it an eerie, mystical red glow.
A single rose can mean all.
The Face On the Wall
By Laura, age 12, Woodbridge Middle School, Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Who's that girl staring back at me,
The face on the wall I'll always see,
That face on the wall I'll always be,
That face on the wall I'll never know,
The kindness it will never show,
Never satisfied with itself,
Always wishing to be someone else,
Always dreaming of a better place,
Instead of being just "that face",
A place in life with milestones passed,
Instead of stuck inside that glass,
The face on the wall a reflection, you see,
The face on the wall, it's always just me.
A Haiku
By Beth, age 12, St Flannans School, Brisbane, Australia
Darkness everyday
Until the day comes for me,
Then my wings take flight
A bad fall
By Annette and Jobel, age 9, Year 3, WSPS School, Singapore
One day, J O was very bored then he decided to climb a tree to see a cat on the branch. So he climb up the tree and sit on the branch.
Suddenly, the branch broke and Jo shouted ,"Help, help, help". He fell down on to the grass
and did not move.Then his friend Jane came walking down and saw Jo and went to a telephone and called the hospital.
Soon the ambulance came and took Jo to the hospital and Jo felt better and thanked Jane, so they became very good friends.
Sometimes when they did not know to do their homework, they called each other. They promised to look after each other.
The Silent Sea
By Ben, age 9, Year 4, Porchester School School, Nottingham, UK
The Sea is as salty as a tear rolling from a child's eye,
As sorrowful as a man just about to die,
As dirty as a babies nappy,
And as raging as a dragon when its happy.The sea is full of creatures spitting and spurting,
And as splendid as royal king,
As furious as an angry witch,
And as worried as a child just about to snitch.The sea is full of happy swimmers,
It is beautiful at night when it shimmers,
It is raging like a cross vast dog,
And as misty as a silent town covered in thick, swirling , smokey fog...
The Secret Cave
By Kent, age 9, UK
One day, a kid named Janet went to the supermarket. When she got there, she saw many people buying the same item. Janet tried to see what it was, but the crowd was too squishy. Finally the crowd was finished, and Janet saw a food can(at least it looked like one) called "the new stinky bomb: bewitch your friends and stink your enemies".
Janet grabbed the last can and then went to the counter to pay for all the stuff. She then asked her mother to go to Jill's house to play. She smuggled the can of the stinky bomb and when she gat there she showed Jill what she brought.
Jill said,"Oh, I already got that. My mom bought 30 cans of that for my birthday." Janet said," Let's throw the bombs at Carlo's (their enemy's) swimming pool".
They went to Carlo's house with 20 of the stinky bombs. When they got there, they found out that Carlo wasn't home, which made it easier to throw the bombs at the swimming pool. They sneaked to the pool and started throwing the bombs. After the pool water level started to mysteriously sink and before their eyes, they saw a huge hole in the middle of the pool.
The girls jumped in, and they saw a cave. They followed the cave and before they knew it, they ended up back in the street. A few hours later, they were relieved that Carlo's family would throw the pool away, since they saw that there was a huge hole in the pool.
The showoff
By Mariette, age 10, George Vanier Catholic School, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Once upon a time there lived a very rich girl who had everything she wanted. Her mom was the meanest person I knew and she had to kill a man to have money. The girl went to school once and started to showoff about he mom being so brave and her being rich and perfect.
One day I saw her walking in the fields and she was abusing a cat just for fun. Her favorite star is Britney Spears. Her mom will let her see Britney Spears otherwise her daughter will threaten her. The showoff is very violent because she'll see violence on t.v. and try it on other people because she thinks it's fun. Every time when she goes to school she'll show everybody that she can do splits, cartwheels, roundoff, the bridge and even a front handspring. That girl name is Jessica.
A Friend is like a Flower
By Beth, age 11, Grade 7, St Flannan's School, Brisbane, Australia
A friend is like a flower,
that never ever dies,
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or could they be a cabbage,
Not alone in the patch.
Or maybe like a brand new gate,
That never will unlatch.
A friend is like a rainbow,
colourful and bright.
Maybe like a brave lion,
That never gets a fright.
Maybe like a fresh egg that
doesn't give up till the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend?
Stories from Chiddix Junior High School, Chiddix, Illinois, USA
My Bull Ride
By Heston, Age 12, Newton Middle School, Littleton, CO, USA
As I was on this bull I nodded my head which was a big mistake, as I was out in the arena on top of the bull I didn't see anything , then when I hit the ground I new instantly I had a broken nose. The reason I knew instantly was because there was a pain in my nose. Then when I got up I didn't think I needed to tell anybody because all you can do for it is put ice on it. So when I got back behind the fence my mom noticed immediately because she said "look at Heston's nose it's flat" so when everybody was done looking at me my dad escorted my to the ambulance to get my nose checked out and get ice. While the doctor dude was checking me out he said "I would be surprised if it wasn't broken" but you can't put a cast on it because you couldn't breath, so he just gave me some ice and we left. When we got out of the ambulance I decided to go into my aunt's trailer to look at my nose in a mirror, and it was flat, after I looked at my nose in the mirror we decided to go home because I felt nauseous. While we were coming home I just laid back and rested but half way into the ride home I sat up and said to my mom "when can I ride again". And then the rest of the ride I felt just fine.
Would you blame her?
By Amna, age 12, Sialkot, Cantt, Pakistan
She was lying on her bed in the ward tears were rolling from her eyes. She was having an operation on the other day.
Her tonsils were to be removed. She was afraid of operations. That was because her uncle had an operation of heart bypass & he died after the operation. She feared death. At her left was an 11 year old boy about whom she didn't know anything except that his name is Nomi & his star is cancer. She often thought about the boy & had questions about him in his small mind like that why the boy always has a big smile on his face, what is the problem with him, why is he here & questions like that but she couldn't answer any one of it.
One day he was reading a novel by Dickens.
"What are you reading?" she asked.
"It's a novel of Charles Dickens".
Then a doctor came in & took him with him. She was alone in the room. Then after some time the doctor came in with the boy's parents and another doctor.
"Your boy has got blood cancer.I can tell by the reports of the tests."
"Can't say anything., Your flower will not bloom more than two or four months"
She knew about cancer. She told the boy about his disease which was forbidden by the doctor. After a week she saw that the boy's bed is empty. She asked the nurse about him.
"Someone told him about his problem and the sensitive boy couldn't take it and died".
She was ashamed and she knew that there is a killer inside her. She could not forget him & her mind often says that you are a killer, Samia, and she had bundles of thoughts on her mind.
What Moms Are...
By Kelly, age 11.5, Mississippi Heights Middle School, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA
Moms are the sugar on your wheaties,
The butter on your toast.
The first person you talk to when you feel down.
The shoulders you cry on.
The ones who raise you and make you how you are.
The first person you saw,
first word you spoke (mama)
The ones who brought you into this world,
The ones who will always be there for you no matter what!
Tweety
By Kelsey, age 10, Year 5, Custer Elem School, Broken Bow, NE
There once was a bird that was bright yellow
And he was quite a funny little fellow
He was as small as a mouse,
just as fast as a grouse
And he would fly through his house and bellow.
The Boy from Mars
By Dusty, age 12, Engish Elementary School, USA
One day there was a a boy name Josh and he was going to school and one day he was at lunch and no one would talk to him or sit with him.His best buddy did not sit with him. Josh asked the teacher and the teacher did not say nothing. One day a kid was going to Josh's house and Josh was leaving and he was leaving for Mars.
So the boy went back to school and said and the boy never came back.
Wacky Poems from Caleb of Indiana, USA
Rosa Parks: Her Life Story
By Kristine, age 13, 8th grade, Almont Junior/ Senior High School, Almont, Michigan, United States
Rosa Louise Parks
Sometimes called the mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement;
Thought that most white people that she met could use some major improvement.She refused to give up her seat for a white man on a Montgomery bus;
And wanted to teach black people's rights to all of us.Rosa knew that blacks were supposed to sit in the back;
But didn't think that that was very fair for blacks.Her refusal, which occurred in 1955, helped bring about the civil rights movement in the United States;
For the black people's civil rights, Rosa Louise Parks would be one of the best candidates.Then, a boycott was started that was run by Martin Luther King Junior;
If Rosa were never born, then black people's rights wouldn't have come any sooner.Detroit is where she lives;
In 1967 Rosa joined John Conyers Junior, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives.
The life of Leonardo Da Vinci
By DL, age 14, 8th grade, Almont Jr/Sr High School, Almont, Michigan, USA
He grew up in Italy starting in 1452,
He was a painter and a sculptor too,
He moved many times during his life,
Through his travels he had no wife,
A good painter always was he,
I don't know what he charged as a fee,
His talents were shown at an early age,
Many things he did on a page.During his life he did lots of stuff,
Many of them I would consider tough,
He discovered things that at the time were new,
The Mona Lisa was started in 1492,
This painting was one of many,
I don't know if it earned him a penny,
Machine guns and other things he began to make,
By now we know that was a mistake,At age 65 he worked for the king,
Sculpting and painting were his thing,
17 of his works have survived,
That's why his popularity has thrived,
Planning a statue, 12 years were spent,
To build a cannon its materials went,
Where he was buried was overthrown,
Now the whereabouts of his body is unknown.
How Saturn Got Its Rings
By Todd, age 13, Norwell Middle School, Ossian, IN, USA
Once upon a time, there was a huge annual carnival for all the gods. The carnies' tents were as colorful as a flower garden. This carnival was started because the gods were so busy that they had no time for vacation. The carnival also gave the new gods a chance to get aquainted with the other gods. Gods came from all over the world to participate in this festive event. Because so many gods attended, they were crammed into the carnival like sardines. Most gods were just another face in the crowd, but one god stood out.
Sammy Saturn was a fat round god. He was as short as a duck but as fat as a gorilla. He always cheated on carnival games. Sammy was so bad at cheating that he made Hades look like an angel. Most of the gods liked him, but they kept away from him because he would always get them in trouble with Zeus. None of the carnies liked him.
Sammy cheated on a game where you would try to shoot a basketball into a peach basket. Sammy jumped into the air, over the line that he was supposed to shoot flat-footed on, and jammed it into the basket. The carnie running the booth got so mad at Sammy that he threw eight basketballs at him. Higher and higher they went until they were caught by the sun's gravatational pull. This formed the planets that we know today as Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.
This year at the carnival, Sammy played a game where you threw rings around pop bottles. Sammy decided that he was going to win the game by cheating. He paid Carl the carnie twenty rupees and started to play. He leaned over the mark that his elbows couldn't go past and put all the rings on a bottle. Carl the carnie was so furious at him that he threw the rings at Sammy.
All of a sudden, the rings floated into the air, expanded, and dropped around Sammy's middle. Sammy was able to dodge two of the rings, but seven of them got caught around him. Sammy looked at Carl and shouted. In response to Sammy's crude remarks, Carl kicked Sammy in his tummy. Sammy flew far out into the midnight black sky and into the line of the planets. Later, people dropped his first name and called the planet that he had become Saturn. Because of its large rings, Saturn always sticks out, just like Sammy did, when compared to the other planets.
Pokémon
By Helen, age 10, St. Colmcilles School, Dublin, Ireland
1
Pokémon,that stupid, stupid game it really, really
Drives me totally insane!
Swapping and shoving, shouting and fighting
I'd much rather be indoors practising my writing!2
Pokémon, Pokémon that stupid, stupid game it really, really
Drives me totally insane!
Everywhere I look it's cards, cards, cards
I'll swap you this I'll swap you that. That one's really hard!3
Pokémon, Pokémon that stupid, stupid game it really, really
Drives me totally insane!
I really, really hate it. It really, really stinks
That's obviously not what certain people seem to think!4
Pokémon, Pokémon that stupid, stupid game it really, really
Drives me totally insane!
Halloween on Haunted Mountain
By Jeremy, age 16, 9th grade, Lewisville High School North, Lewisville, TX, USA
It was a dark and stormy night when the young maiden stepped off the back of her large white horse and started for the castle door merely feet away. Her long blond hair flowed from her head like a waterfall and her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Her long heavy sword swung gracefully on her side as she approached the towering wooden door.
The castle they say was haunted by the ghost of Mr. Thomas Riply, a young man who met his untimely death three years ago on a weird accident involving a chandelier. The man was a well known doctor in the small town of North Cape, but was also well known as a powerful Warlock. The towns people looked away at this small detail because of his worderful work in medicine. That was the legend that brought her here on this dark night, she wanted to know the truth about the man that some say haunted this house.
She knocked firmly on the door twice before it was opened by a gust of wind she only suspected. The inside of the dark undistributed castle was like the inside of a Twister. There were booken chairs scattered over the floor and glass fragments laying about on the ground. She could only imagine the men who would do something like this. Or was it something else that made this damage?
She walked to the grand stair case on the left side of the darkened lobby and started towards the second floor of the three story house.
The second was as same as the first, broken glass, broken chairs, and every imagineable item on the second floor was broken as well including doors. She saw no reason to scrutinize the floor any longer so she made her way to the third and final floor in search of the so called ghost.
The third was noting like the others, it was completely untouched and unharmed. Every last grain of wood was in tact and all the glass items were still standing and sparkling like new. At the end of the red carpet hall to her right was a small door the size of a cabinet. The door was quit odd indeed with it's bizarre size.
She approached the door with sweating palms and a fearfull heart. What lay behind this small weird door was the mystery that only she could figure out. She approached the door and reached out with a trembling right hand and turned the gold knob on the right side and opened the small door at the end of the large hall.
The girl was never seen again in the town. Some say their fearless girl they sent died while others say she lived and is still living there in the castle on the top of Clayton Mountain to this day. The truth will never be known to where the young maiden disappeared to on that mysterious October 30th night.
My Story: Choclate
By Keri, age 9, Junction City School, Junction City, Boyle County, KY, U.S.A
One night my friend was sleeping over. At 12:00 we went to sleep. Then I heard a sound. It sounded like a horse.
I looked outside there was nothing there.
Then later I heard the noise again.
I woke my friend and told her about the noise. We looked outside and a big, handsome, Black stallion was at my window. We went out side and tied the horse to my fence post and named it Choclate.
The next morning we got up and went out side to see Choclate when we discovered he was gone. We saw bloody footprints so we followed them. It ended at the railroad tracks. We looked up and we saw Choclate on the railroad tracks. Then we saw the train.
We tried to get Choclate off but we didn't in time. The train did something amazing . About two miles away from us the train stopped. A women got out and ran t'wards the horse. She got on and said, "Thank you for finding my ghost horse, Ok!!"
The train started again and we got out of the way. Then I said, "What do you mean ghost horse?"
"You'll see. "she screamed over the noise.
The train came faster and faster and hit them. But they were still there!!!!!
That's Life!
By Jameela, age 10, Year 5, Alleyn's Junior School, London, UK
''Stop! Wait for me'', Tamara cried as she ran after her twin brother, Thomas.
''You expect me to wait for you while its pouring rain. You must be joking!'' Thomas laughed at his sister.
''But you know that I'm not a very fast runner Tommy. Anyway Mum and dad will be very upset when they see that you've left me in the rain.''
''Well you know what Mum says. 'THAT'S LIFE' ''
''Ooh. I do hate it so much when you are so mean and horrible. You really should try to be nicer you know Tommy. Tommy?
It was no use for Tommy had sprinted off into the distance and left his sister jumping over the waves on the beaches of Brighton on the wettest, coldest, most miserable day ever. Then she remembered.
That same day had been cross country day at school and Tammi was determined to beat her brother the fastest sprinter in the world( according to all of Tammi's school friends). Tammi's dream had come true . She had beaten Tommy. He hadn't spoken to her all afternoon as his sister got cheered on by the whole school.
"Right", She said. "You said it your self.
That's Life!!!"
Smudge
By Kate, age 13, Year 8, Backwell School, Bristol, UK
Chapter 1
The beginning
Hi my name is Smudge and I'm a cat. I'm 12, which is quite old for a cat. I will tell the story of my cat-hood and it is quite long so get yourself comfortable and listen carefully.
I used to live with my mother, which was many years ago. We were a family but I wasn't like any of my brothers and sisters. I had a white nose and white paws but I was light ginger everywhere else. My mother had told us all since we were kittens that humans were always Kind to cats. I found out that she was quite wrong. Anyway my brothers and sisters and myself promised that we would always be nice to them and never ever scratch them.
Read the rest of this heartwarming cat story
Where's Lia Hiding?
By Alex, age 8, USA
"Lia time for dinner! Mom where's Lia. Um... Oh yes I sent her over to Ms.Wilson's. Marie may you please fetch her."
"O.K."
Ring Ring.
"Hello, oh hi Marie. I need my sister. Oh Lia I sent to the forest with Emily. Telephone bye!"
Dinners going to be late tonight, I thought. "What! Lia is in the woods with a 2 year old! Uh yeah. Marie Auger! Get up out of that chair we're going on a hike, sadly again.
"Come on Marie I see something" said my older sister."What is it? Emily! Go get Lia she ran up the hill."
" Mommy oh mommy. I want some more juice. Mommy its Lia. I'm in the crib."
" Up here I saw some bushes moving! Its just a cat. Can I keep it?"
" Sure."
" Mommy why are we going up the hill? MOMMY MAY I PLEASE GET SOME INFORMATION HERE!"
" Sure. What. Lia! Ah. She's sleeping. Lets get home. Why are we heading up these mountains anyway?"
"Because we lost Lia."
"We did, well start running, we've got to find her."
" Not again. Mommy! "
My Normal Life
By Adrienne, age 12, West Chester, Ohio, USA
I lived a regular life. Playing basketball hanging out with my friends; you know the stuff regular kids do. I was a regular kid until a little while ago.
On my 10th birthday I received a special gift from my parents. They had managed to find two Super Bowl tickets. Although this years Super Bowl had already passed, my parents had gone out of their way to get me tickets for next year's game. Since there was no indication who would be playing next year, the ticket was mostly blank.
I didn't care who was playing. I only cared that I was going. I unwrapped my other gifts, sent by the rest of my family. They were good and all, but nobody's gift could match the one my parents had given me.
Read the rest of this moving story
Soft, Gray Eyes
By Cathryn age 16, Year 11, Suffield High School, Suffield, CT, USA
The same rocking motion that had lulled me to sleep woke me abruptly. With a sick feeling in my stomach, I looked around me, realizing that the fear and hopelessness I was experiencing were not a part of my dream, but a horrifyingly vivid description of my present state. With every passing moment, my insides tightened, and the constant rumble of the whitecaps echoed in my head. Panic set in and grabbed my throat, which left me gasping for air. I declared my presence by shouting "Is anybody there?" but was heard only by the wind that wrapped itself around me and swallowed my plea. With a clinched voice I called for help until my throat and lips became parched and I was drained of energy. I cursed the waves under my breath and gave in to despair. Blinking several times in an attempt to erase reality, tears formed and escaped in pathways down my cheeks.
At that moment, I noticed that I lay confined in a small wooden boat, no longer than two of my body lengths and about three feet wide. As this realization set in, I ran my hand along the grains of the wood, producing a surprisingly soothing effect. I did not recall seeing it ever before, and its origin puzzled me. Thoughts (as to how I had ended up where I was) began streaming through my mind. Glancing down, the blue tank top and khaki shorts were the same I had put on that morning; or was it that morning? I searched my mind for answers with futility, and was utterly confused.
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Mrs. Alma
By Alex, age 8, Georgia, United States
Hi! My name is Elly I live in a small town called Plesentville. Everyday after school I would go to Mrs.Alma's
house and she would always be sitting on those steps with a plate full of creamy chocolate chip cookies. Mmm my favorite!
Finlly the day came it was my birthday! I rushed home expecting to see lots of people having fun but instead I saw no one. I walked into the kitchen to see what there was to eat and on the refrigerator I saw a note. It said: Meet us at Polly's Pet Parlor. I quickly grabbed my bike and raced over to the pet parlor. There I saw my mom my dad all my friends and most of all Mrs.Alma.
She was carrying the cutest puppy in the world! After we had been playing with the puppy for a while we went back to my house. We had pizza, we danced, and my personal favorite we opened presents. The next day I was told not to go to Mrs. Alma's after school. I wondered why.
When I was walking home I happened to catch a glimpse of her house I saw men putting all of her stuff into boxes. One of the had are address on it. I raced home so I could be the first one to open the package. When I got home I saw a big brown box sitting on our steps. It had a note that said: Please come to Mrs.Alma's funeral. I was really sad but when I opened the box her cute little puppy jumped out. I still look over at her empty house and imagine her watering her pretty flowers and plants.
Absolutely Positively Fantastic
By Marian, age Eleven, Grade Six, Settlers Farm Schools, Paralowie, Australia, Adelaide
What a fantastic day, what an absolutely, positively fantastic day! I was walking down the street minding my own business and suddenly I'm walking a pet elephant off to scooby-doo land for a some lady I don't even know.
You think thats bad? It gets much worse! A piano was dropped from a high rise building and thats right, ladys and gentlemen...it fell on my holy head! I feel absolutely, positively fantastic! So, after all thats happened, I figure a girl of my intelligence would go and relax...and thats what I'm trying to do.
It's not working! How can I relax when Nasa has been practising air loops while I'm perched on the wing. My life is absolutely, positively fantastic. After all thats happened...elephants, scooby-doo land, pianos, sore heads and swooping around New York without a seat belt while you're on the outside of the plane..I would say today has been the most absolutely , positively fantastic day..not!
Can you not realise a sarcastic, mentally ill girl when you see one?
Wondering
By Danielle, age 11, 6th Grade, Williams Middle School, Longmeadow, MA, USA
As I stand atop the starting block, I adjust my goggles, wondering, wondering what will happen.
I can see the wall approaching I turn into a quick flip and and push off still wondering wondering what will happen.
The gun sounds, I dive to feel the rush of the water test my body wondering, wondering what will happen.
The end of the pool where I started looms toward me as I push every ounce of energy left into the finish, I look up now knowing what had happened.
When I go to bed
By Rebecca, age 13, Prineville, USA
Every night I crawl in bed,
I say my prayer in my head,
As I lay there I just think,
Of things I will do this week,
Then all the sudden I close my eyes,
Now I am dreaming of pies.
The Snowman And The Magic Hat
By Samantha, age 9, P.S.79 School, Whitestone, USA
Once upon a time there was a boy. He made a snowman. The snowman had a magic hat,a carrot, a coal nose and smile. The boy loved the snowman. It was a grand one.The boy was wondering why people stood around the house staring at the snowman.It was summer and the snowman was still there.A girl almost took the magic hat off of the snowman. The boy said NO HE WILL MELT!!! The snowman lived forever and ever wearing the magic hat.
The Ugly Toad
By EMMA, age 12, Year 8, PENSNETT SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY , DUDLEY, UK
Once there was a handsome young prince. His father and mother wanted him to find a princess who he could settle down with and marry. Day after day princesses came to the royal palace to be interviewed by the prince and day after day they left with nothing. The prince did not want to marry any of these girls as he wanted to be in love with his wife.
One day he was walking in the woods for a breath of fresh air when suddenly he heard this wonderful voice singing in the meadow. He ran through the trees to get to the meadow. When he tripped up on a branch and was captured in a net. It was a witch who had caught him, she had a son of her own and wanted the princes looks to give to her own son so the singing princess would fall in love with him and give the witch her money. She cast a spell on him and her son, the prince was turned into a frog and the witch's son was turned into a handsome young boy.
The price hopped away from the evil witch and her son and went to the meadow their he saw the lovely princess. He hopped over to her and imediatly fell in love he wished he was a prince so he could marry her. The princess jumped with fright when she saw him