English

===media type="custom" key="3767231" __The Wolf's View__ ===


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There were no words strong enough to describe how fed up Vincent was. Starved, fatigued and isolated was just part of how he was feeling. With no more hope, he slunk onto the ground. Vincent could feel sleepiness pressing down on his eyelids and eventually gave in, willingly drifting off to sleep. The purring rhythm of footsteps woke Vincent. The delicious smell of human blood wafted past him. Following only his instincts, Vincent rose and followed an unfamiliar little girl in a red cloak down the forest path. “What’s your name? And what are doing all alone in the forest?” Vincent asked, pressing the young girl for information. She jumped, obviously unknown to the fact there was a dangerous creature following her. “My name is Little Red Riding Hood. I’m going to visit my Grandmother who lives through the forest, down by the river.” “How lovely. What’s in the basket?” “Some cakes” she answered, sounding uncomfortable about speaking to a stranger. Vincent didn’t reply, instead suspiciously disappearing into the trees. Little Red Riding Hood continued walking down the forest path, ignoring the strange wolf’s wary behavior.

Meanwhile, Vincent was racing through a shortcut in the forest, hunger gnawing away at his insides. He came to the house where the young girl’s grandmother lived. In one giant leap, he crossed the river and knocked on the front door. “Who is it?” and old voice croaked. In the highest and most girlish voice he could manage, Vincent replied “It’s me Grandma. Little Red Riding Hood”. “Oh, what a nice surprise. Come on in dear.” He thrust the door open, and before she could say another word, gobbled the little old woman right up. The hunger pains faded, but the small lady was not enough to quench his hunger. He needed more. Thinking on his feet, Vincent grabbed a nightgown from the grandmother’s wardrobe and pulled it on, along with a frilly bonnet. Gingerly, he snuggled into the bed and tugged the covers all the way up to his nose.

Before he knew it, Little Red Riding Hood was knocking on the door. “Who is it?” he asked, imitating the grandmother’s voice almost perfectly. “It’s Little Red Riding Hood” she replied. “Oh wonderful! Come on inside now dear.” The door opened and in came the same little girl Vincent had run into in the forest. “Oh my Grandma, what big ears you have!” “All the better to hear you with” Vincent replied. “But Grandma, what big eyes you have!” The girl continued. “All the better to see you with, my dear.” “What big teeth you have” she said nervously, her voice quivering slightly as she backed away. “All the better to eat you with!” Vincent roared, leaping out of the bed. Little Red Riding Hood ran out of the house screaming. “Help! A wolf ate my grandmother!” Vincent persisted in the chase, not noticing that a nearby woodcutter had heard the girls cries. He grabbed the wolf and made him spit out the grandmother, who was quite startled from the experience but still in one piece. The woodcutter dragged the wolf into a deep place in the forest where he could never harm anyone again. Vincent was extremely disappointed that he had lost the girl and ended up dying of starvation. Little Red Riding Hood learned a very important lesson about not speaking to strangers from this situation.

By Sophie Adams

__Benjamin and the Missing Carrot__
In a very faraway forest, hidden amongst a group of pine trees, was a small brick cottage. It had a small vegetable garden out the back, a wooden door that was withered from years of harsh weather, and four windows, two on either side, that were draped with curtains that looked like they had seen their best days ten years ago. The walls were showing the first signs of rot, and the old patterned wallpaper was damp from mould.

Every morning the sun would shine down over the cottage and trees, making the dew drops sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds, waking up the rabbit who lived there.

Benjamin the rabbit was genuinely happy with his life, and he had no worries in the world. His fur was as white as snow and as soft as a fluffy towel that has just come out of the clothes dryer. Benjamin would wake up when the sun hit his cottage, shining through his window and warming his sleepy face. Yawning, he would stretch his paws out as far as they would go, before stumbling his way to the bathroom. There, benjamin would wash his face and change into a pair of faded blue jeans with holes in the knees and a button-up shirt. Benjamin would then go outside to collect his breakfast.

Out the back of his cottage was a small plot of land that was Benjamin’s wife and family. He grew all kinds of vegetables here; carrots, lettuce, pumpkin, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, and he would spent most of his day making sure they had the best environment to grow in. Benjamin had won numerous awards for his large pumpkins and best-tasting broccoli. Every morning Benjamin would go out into his garden and pick a delicious looking carrot for his breakfast. But on this morning - Benjamin was shocked to see that all his carrots were gone! And not just his carrots - the lettuce, beans, tomatoes, cucumber and broccoli were all gone - even his prize-winning pumpkin!

But where had they gone? Benjamin was sure they had all been there yesterday. Just then his tummy grumbled with hunger, and Benjamin decided to go down to the market, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to think on an empty stomach.

Reminding himself to pick up some oil while he was at the market, Benjamin hopped on his rusty old bike and squeaked his way into town. He followed the weed infested path out of the forest and crossed the main highway carefully, getting off his bike looking both ways before he crossed.

A beautiful, mouth-watering aroma hit Benjamin as he neared the market. The sidewalks were alive with animals searching through the magnificent colours that lined the streets, trying to find a bargain. The fresh spiring air had attracted hundreds of buyers and sellers to the market today, and their were stalls selling everything you could imagine.

Benjamin pushed his bike through the crowds of people, past the clothes stalls, children’s toys, real silver cutlery and handmade jewellery until he reached his destination: Gerry’s Fresh Produce. He admired the works of art that were fruit and vegetables. Sour yellow lemons as bright as the sun, lettuces as crisp as a brand new sheets, and blueberries as deep as the ocean. Then Benjamin saw them - the vibrant orange carrots that looked so long that they could go on forever, with striking green leaves sprouting out at the top.

But the Benjamin remembered why he was here, why he was paying money for a carrot instead of buying his own. All his crops were missing - and he needed to find out why.

Just then Gerry the worm saw Benjamin. “Ah Ben, how may I help you today?” He asked cheerfully. Benjamin quickly chose a carrot from the pile and paid for it. “Are you okay there?” Gerry asked, his slimy pink skin glistening in the sunshine. “You look a little anxious”. “I woke up this morning Gerry, and all my crops were gone!” Benjamin exclaimed. “Oh dear, that’s terrible” Gerry sympathised. “I know. I don’t know what to do. I guess I’m going to ask around and see if anybody know anything.” “That sounds like a good plan”.

After finishing his carrot, Benjamin waved goodbye to Gerry and rode his bike to his best friend’s house, Maia the Dog. He rung the bell, and soon enough Benjamin could here footsteps coming up the hall. “Benjamin! What a nice surprise! Would you like to come in?” Maia said when she answered the door, her tail wagging and voice ringing with enthusiasm. “No thank you Maia. I’ve come here to ask you if you know anything about what happened to vegetable garden. I woke up this morning and everything I had been growing was gone”. Maia knew how Benjamin loved his vegetables, and felt really sorry for him. “Wow, that really sucks. Sorry Ben, I don’t know anything. I wish I could help you, but I’ve got some family coming around for lunch and I really need to get the house tidied.” “That’s okay Maia, thanks anyway.” Benjamin answered, not wanting her to feel bad. He heard Maia shut the door as he rode his bike down the driveway and out onto the road.

Benjamin went to three of his other friend’s houses after Maia’s. Thomas the hedgehog, Kayleigh the snake and Harry the duck, but known of them knew what had happened to his crops. Feeling very sad and disappointed, Benjamin rode his bike back to his cottage, picking up some oil for his bike on the way.

Once he reached his cottage, Benjamin parked his bike out the front, the brakes screeching as he stopped. Just in case, he checked his vegetable garden, but everything was still gone. Benjamin sighed. He didn’t know what he was going to do. I suppose, he thought, that I will just have to get some more seeds and plant brand new crops. Benjamin wiped his feet on the doormat before going inside, so not to trudge mud into the house.

Benjamin opened his fridge to get a nice cold drink before going out to plant, and was extremely surprised when a fountain of colour fell out! Carrots, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumber and broccoli all fell out of the fridge and dow by his feet. All of a sudden Benjamin remembered what had happened to his crops! He had harvested them all yesterday - and then packed it all into his fridge! He laughed at himself, and began picking up some of the beautiful carrots that he had missed so much. Sometimes rabbits could be so forgetful.

By Sophie Adams.

__Limerick__
On the plane I was feeling quite air sick So I decided to write a nice limerick I was going quite well And I thought it was swell Until at the fifth line I suddenly grew thick

By Sophie Adams 


 My very special person is a friend of mine named Ailsa Joyce Lipscombe, but everyone calls her Ailsa Bloom. I met her in 2007 when I was admitted to Wellington Children’s Hospital. I first saw her when the nurse took me to my room and she was in the bed opposite mine. My first thought was that she must be a cancer patient as she had no hair, instead a Canteen bandana on her head. She smiled at me a smile so true that I knew that even if she was really ill, she was still happy. It was then that I first started to admire her.

I soon found out what a talkative and sociable person she was, when she began to ‘bore me with her life story’, as the nurses put it. But I didn’t find it at all boring. I learned how she didn’t have cancer, but it was the medication she was on that was causing her hair to fall out. We stayed up all night talking, or at least until the nurses told us to be quiet. We mainly talked about ourselves. I loved getting to know her, and I loved even more the way she was so optimistic about all the horrible things she was going through. Her positivity gave me a new outlook on life.

Eight days later I had to go back home. Leaving was miserable and there was a few tears from Ailsa and I. She was in hospital for a month more and I visited her once in that time when I had an appointment there. I still really miss her and we text each other all the time. She is a really loving, kind and fun to be around person. I miss her witty jokes and optimism and hope that one day soon I will get to see her again.

By Sophie Adams

__River Sounds__
If beauty could speak, Undoubtably, This is what it would sound like. The water is singing, A beautiful song, Whilst making it’s way down the rocks.

__Bush Sounds__
The leaves are crying to me, Begging me to take a look. I can hear their beauty, Moaning, Griping, Though with nothing to complain about.

__Ed The Dragon.__
Far away in the Cherry Tree Forest, hidden between the blossoming trees, was a small, beige coloured cottage. In the cottage lived a little, kind-hearted old woman. Her name was Rose. Rose lived alone in her cottage, apart from her three pets, Polly the parrot, Henry the cat, and Ed, her very own mythical dragon. Ed was a shy creature, and enjoyed no company but his own. He didn’t have many friends, and kept to his bedroom in the back of the small, beige-coloured cottage for most of the day. Ed’s room was a little cramped. He had a king-sized bed shoved into one corner, which was never made. In the other corner was an antique 3-legged stool. That was all, apart from the door and a small window that never let any sunlight in. Ed loved routine. Every morning he would wake up at a ridiculously early time, make himself a cup of coffee, then go back into bed. He would read the only book he owned, a very torn, very battered and very well-read copy of The Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. Winnie the Pooh was sort of like Ed’s hero. He dreamed of being like him, having friends to go on adventures and play games with. Once Ed realized there was no more coffee in his cup, he would sigh, put his book down, and drift back into sleep. One night, Ed had a wonderful dream. He dreamt that he was just like his hero, Winnie The Pooh. That he had friends to do everything with, and take on adventures. But the best part of his dream was that he was no longer shy. The morning after, when Ed woke up, he thought about his dream for a while. Soon enough there was a huge grin pasted on this dragons face. The dream he experienced one insignificant night had given him courage to go out and make friends. He wasn’t shy anymore. So, on that one life-changing day, Ed went off to start a new adventure of his own.



__A Wish Upon A Star __
‘Stunning’ the little spider contemplated, as she gazed upwards one night. The sky was as dark as an enemies glare, and the stars were simply bright. ‘I should make a wish’ she mused, And so she wished with all her might. She wished for the hungry to be fed, and for the blind to gain sight. She wished for the homeless to have shelter, and for the poor to become dight. She wished for every war to end, and for the thieves to learn wrong from right. Then she hoped for all of these to come true, until the morning light.

__A Titanic Disaster[[image:Titanic.png width="328" height="218" align="right"]]__
Dubbed practically unsinkable, the RMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship of her time. She was capable of holding over 3,500 people, could reach a speed of 22 knots and was as long as the Empire State Building is tall. On the tenth of April, 1912, the Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage. She was travelling from Southampton to New York. Soon after leaving, there was a potential disaster. The Titanic nearly collided with another ship, a steamer called New York. As the New York was much smaller than the Titanic, she was sucked into the Titanic’s trail caused by it’s three huge propellers. The Titanic then sailed to France and Ireland to pick up further passengers. After it’s near accident earlier, the next few days of her journey were uneventful. The captain, Edward John Smith, was making good time. On the night of April the fourteenth, the seas were calm and the temperature was near freezing. Captain Smith had received warnings of icebergs, and in response had changed the course of the Titanic slightly to the south. Later warnings about icebergs still in the path of the Titanic failed to reach the bridge. At twenty to twelve, when the sky was clear, two lookouts recognized an iceberg in the path of the ship. ‘Iceberg, right ahead!’ they cried. One lookout rang the ships bell three times. Even though a collision was inevitable, the First Officer ordered a sudden turn to the left and for the engines to be put in reverse. The iceberg hit the right side of the ship, splitting the hull. As seawater flowed into the ship, the crew shut the watertight doors. While the ship could stay afloat with four flooded compartments, five were being filled. Alerted by the sudden jolt, the captain ordered a full stop of the Titanic. Just after midnight, he instructed that lifeboats be prepared and for distress calls to be sent out. Several ships were alerted by the distress calls, but none were close enough to respond in time. Initially, the passengers of the Titanic did nothing. They all believed the ship to be ‘unsinkable’, so the worry of sinking didn’t even cross their minds. They carried on with their activities, such as playing cards and singing along to songs. By ten past twelve in the morning, water had flooded the F Deck. The first of the lifeboats were being lowered, but it was clear that, even when filled, they could only carry just over 1,000 people. There were over 2,000 people on board. Due to the women-and-children-first policy they boarded the lifeboats first. By now Mr Andrews, the designer of the ship, estimated that the Titanic had just over one hour left. At five past two, the last lifeboat was lowered. It was then Captain Smith realized that nothing more could be done. ‘Men you have done your duty. You can do no more. Now it’s every man to himself’, he told his crew. By twenty past two, the whole of titanic was underwater. There were 2,223 people aboard the Titanic. Only 706 survived. 1,517 people’s lives were lost, mainly men, on that tragic night. In 1985, the greatest ship ever lost was found. Dr Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic, broken in two parts, at the bottom of the ocean. The Titanic is one disaster that will never be forgotten.

By Sophie Adams

__Soul Thief__
With a voice that disrupted the heavens, the vampire spoke. Quietly and softly, like whispering a secret.

‘Come’ it hissed. ‘To a land with no tomorrow’. The naive bystanders stood, sucked into this lie.

With an offer of immortality, they followed the vampire. Entranced by it’s magnificent beauty, and stolen soul.

The ignorant wishers, wanting everything they shouldn’t have. Followed the picture of death, to the bitter life ahead.

__My Hero__
Our class did an online project where we wrote about our hero. You should be able to view mine [|here.]

[[image:treeeee.png width="399" height="266" align="right"]]__Snap__
Solitary, like a withering old tree. My life is slowly falling, as leaves on a Autumn day. I am surrounded by love, the vibrant green grass of my life. And as the fog encroaches, I know my time is near. I go to rest eternally, on the trunk of the tree. The branches snap.

Meadow Sun My Four Picture Story Mickey stumbled along the path, one she hadn’t followed in years. She was glad for the shade the trees provided on such a scorching hot day. Small weeds were beginning to grow over the path. Vines were writhed around the trees on either sides of her. Had this place always been so beautiful? Something caught her eye. She spun around on her left foot, then froze. Memories flooded back to her. Foreign memories, or so they seemed. Memories of another time, a fonder time. It seemed like so long ago. Everything had changed now. But this small, rundown clearing hadn’t. Mickey compared it to the images in her head, and found that over the years, not one thing had changed. The grass was the same length and the trees still possessed a mysterious stance, like they had one hell of a story to tell. Mickey clambered over the worn-down fence, and suddenly the true charm of the meadow fell upon her. Stunned, she fell into the grass, embracing the natural beauty of it all. The blades of grass were real and pure, unlike the clovers that made up her backyard at home. Mickey lay there until darkness began to take over. When it did, she sat up slowly. Without saying, or even thinking a thing, Mickey scrambled back over the fence. She resumed following the path, her mind blank. It wasn’t long until Mickey had made her way out of the inky green forest. The streets were pitch black, with the occasional splash of artificial light coming from the street lamps. Mickey arrived to an empty house, as usual. She searched through her blue, tiresome-looking schoolbag, and realized that she had been in such a rush this morning that she had left her key inside the house. Lacking any real motivation, Mickey searched the outside of the house until she found an unlocked window. She wedged her fingers in the crack, breaking a nail. She heaved the heavy, old-fashioned window open, and clawed her way through the small gap. She found her key in the same place she’d left it: on the kitchen bench. So that she didn’t forget it again tomorrow morning, Mickey put the rusted key in her school bag now, and then rushed into her bedroom. She threw her bag onto the second hand couch below the window, and tugged open the door of a cupboard next to it. Inside the cupboard were piles stacked upon piles of books. Some were old and had obviously been well read, while others looked as though they’d never been opened. Mickey rummaged through a pile, then pulled one out. It was thin, and had ‘private’ written on the front. It was obviously a diary. In an absent-minded manner, Mickey wandered over to the couch and sat down, just missing her bag. She opened the diary to the first page.

//February 16th, 2006

The roads to my house were blocked, so I had to cut through the bush. While finding my way through the trees, I found a small path. Curious as to where it lead, I followed it. There, at the end, was the most beautiful meadow I had ever seen. It was like the end of a rainbow. The meadow looked as though it had never been disrupted. The hot afternoon sun shone down through the trees. I could of stayed there for hours, but I got a urgent text message from my mother saying I needed to be home. I am now, but she isn’t here. Oh wait! I think that’s her...

Mickey.//



Tears were welling up in Mickey’s eyes as she remembered that day. It was the day she had lost her sister, Joanna, to a tragic accident. A single tear fell down her cheek and onto the page of the diary. At this, she slammed the small notebook shut. Mickey swore to herself that she’d never return to that meadow again. But the thought of never seeing the beautiful green grass, the drops of dew sparking in the sunshine or the mysterious trees again, it nearly broke her heart. Exactly a week later, Mickey broke that promise. She’d had a hard day at school, and found herself compelled to return to the forbidden meadow. It was another sunny day, but the heat was bearable this time. After enduring the two detentions she had been issued with, she stumbled down the school stairs. Mickey didn’t realize that there were tears streaming down her cheeks, but she soon lost her motive to continue. Her body sat itself down on the concrete steps, and she leaned her head against the grey, graffitied wall. Mickey didn’t stay in that position of sadness nearly as long as she thought she would. Footsteps and loud, disturbingly cheerful voices reminded Mickey that she shouldn’t be here, and she quickly made haste. Her plan was to head straight home, but she was sidetracked as soon as she caught sight of the luscious leaves belonging to the trees in the forest. The very sight of it gave Mickey an uncontrollable adrenaline rush. She hustled through the bush and to the path, receiving scratches anywhere her skin was bare. Mickey jogged lightly along the path, following it’s twisting and turning corners. When she reached the final stretch, Mickey slowed, not wanting to miss it. Though this meadow was unmissable. It’s natural beauty was magnificent, and it looked as though it belonged in the heavens, not in a small, infamous town like the one Mickey lived in. Once again she climbed over the fence that had obviously seen better days. As her feet landed in the meadow she had been mysteriously drawn towards, a feeling or serenity calmed her. She forgot all her worries, and just for a moment, felt completely at ease. Mickey heard something rustle in amongst the surrounding plants, and her good feeling instantly turned. The light, which had previously been dampened by the tall trees, unexpectedly grew brighter. It blinded her momentarily, and a sudden gush of wind forced Mickey onto her knees. She felt defenseless as she covered her eyes from the bright gleam just ahead of her. Mickey didn’t realize it at first, but soon everything became serene and calm again. The wind stopped blustering over the meadow and the blinding light decreased, becoming all but a faint glow. When Mickey dared to uncover her eyes, she found that everything had returned to normal. The plant life surrounding her was still in perfect condition, and this made Mickey wonder if the previous event had really happened. Although, her doubts were soon forgotten.


What then rose from the ground was more than just a fairy. An angel, at the least. Mickey was bewildered by its magnificent beauty. The angel spoke, but Mickey was too mystified to understand. She shut her eyes, trying to make sense of the angel’s words. Slowly, the noise faded away. Mickey hesitated, hoping her angel was still there. She lost concentration for a short moment, too perplexed by the way she had already tagged the angel as hers. Mickey opened her eyes, relieved that her angel was still there, quietly waiting. Though when Mickey took a proper look at the angel, she was overcome by sadness, the same emotion that was pasted on the face of the angel. It was suffering in silence. Mickey suffered too, when she finally registered the appearance of her angel. She fell backwards, then quickly scrambled up, not wanting to be vulnerable. “Mickey, it’s okay” the angel spoke in a soft, almost innocent voice. Even though Mickey hated her now, loathed the angel for what it was putting her through, she trusted it. The face of the angel belonged to her beautiful, elegant sister. “Joanna” Mickey asked, “Why are you here?”. “I’m here for you”. Her words were simple, but there was a whole other meaning behind them. “But, you’re dead...” Mickey began, but was interrupted by her sister. “No Mickey, not like that. I’m here for //you//.” The emphasis on the last word made Mickey understand. “Heaven needs another angel”. Of course, Mickey was sad to be departing this world so suddenly, with all of her family and friends being left behind. But she was secretly thrilled to be alongside her older sister once more. With open eyes and an open mind, Mickey took Joanna’s hand, and together they walked into the light. Because deep down, we all have burdens, but sometimes, these burdens can make us fly.

By Sophie Adams.

My Best Lesson
Norm is not what he seems. His rugged and masculine appearance is nothing to his true personality. As a child, Norm was abused and beaten by his father. When he grew up, Norm was determined not to copy his father’s behavior. He wanted to make a stand against family violence.

When Norm discovered that a large amount of criminals charged with violence towards family members had been cruel to animals at a younger age, he began working with the SPCA to help prevent animal abuse, which, in effect, would lead to safer families.

One day Norm came to speak to us about his campaign, “One Of The Family.” He told us about his past, and how he is trying to teach children to be kind to animals, so they will pass the same attitude on to the people around them.

Norm’s tale had inspired me. He had taught me how important it is to love and respect the people and animals around you, and the environment you live in. The part that touched me the most was the unconditional love that animals gave you. Unlike people, they will never judge you on how you look. You can rant about things that are upsetting you, and they will sincerely pretend to care.

For about three months now I have been volunteering at the SPCA every Saturday morning. I want to do everything in my power to help animals, because I know that if they could, my pets would to the same thing to protect me.

Norm illustrated a lesson I will never forget. His campaign’s motto, ‘Helping one helps the other’ is very true. Treat your animals as one of the family, and they will extend the same love and respect to you, unconditionally.

By Sophie Adams