Keshav Shylesh - 8IG-A - 2018-19

The evening sun had started to set. Everyone had left the classroom and all the chairs were put up on the desks. Joey walked out of the room, back hunched to carry the weight of his bag. He ran the way home. He opened the door and dropped his bag in his room. When he turned around, he looked gloomily towards the couch where his mother was sleeping.

“Mum?” he called out but he got no reply. He ran out the door treading across the carpet that lined the floor. He continued running, once he shut the front door behind him, across the road to the basketball court opposite his house. He heard the sound of a basketball hitting the hoop; as he inched closer, the sound got much clearer.

“Hey! Over here!” a voice came from the direction of the basketball court.

“Hey Drew” Joey said as he ran towards Drew.

An hour later, Joey came back to the house, drenched in sweat: out of breath. He opened the front door and entered the dark living room and walked to his room.

The next day, after school, Joey had just managed to get through the day. He stuffed a piece of paper--his report card-- into the depths of his bag; piled under the English and Science books. The uninterested look made it evident that he didn’t care.

Joey walked to his home carrying his bag, which weighed about the weight of a brick elephant.

He reached out to grab his door, as he reached the front door. He suddenly stopped as he saw an unusual figure walking towards him. The figure stumbled from right to left. “A drunk man…” he thought. “That can only mean--”

“Hey Joey!” said the figure “I’m back early!”

Joey was about to run as his dad reached out into his bag. “Hmm… The school said that a report card was sent. Oh! Found it!” A wave of fear spread across Joey’s face to face his da-- no. A reincarnation of the devil. His dad’s face was as red as blood . His hair parted as if to reveal a pair of horns. He cursed at Joey. His head started heating up. He couldn’t hear a thing. His legs moved on their own: they started running away. Tears started dropping from is face as it started to rain. “You vermin! Don’t set foot in this house ever again!” those were the last words Joey heard as he disappeared from sight.

Joey just realized what had happened. He had run away from home-- and had been kicked out as well. “Great! Now i don’t have anywhere to go!” he thought aloud. “What do you mean?” said a voice from behind. Joey turned around to face Drew. Joey had known Drew for 3 years now. He was in 9th when Joey was in 5th grade. Joey told his situation to his 17 year old friend. “Hmmm… I might be able to do something about that.” he said.

“Really! You’ll talk to my dad?”

“Well no. I thought that you could stay over at my house.”

Joey had met Drew one day 3 years ago. Joey was walking around school, and he kept staring at the basketball court. All the older kids were taking up one side of the court where they were aggressively tackling and running around. On the other court, the 5th graders-- Joey’s grade-- were playing. Joey was usually excluded from everything. Everyone talked down to him because he was skinny and small. “Hey. You wanna play?” a boy asked. He had came from the side where the 9th graders were playing. “Who are you?” Joey asked.       

“I’m Drew. What’s your name?”

Ever since then, Drew had been playing basketball with Joey and teaching him everything about it.

Joey had stayed at Drew’s house for a while: around a week. Joey was about to meet Drew at the basketball court. Joey walked to the court. Unusually he couldn’t hear any basketballs. He looked both sides and crossed the road. He reached to court to find no one there. He waited for hours. He gave up and started playing basketball.

Joey walked back and forth, still waiting. “I’ll go and check at his house.” he thought as he ran toi Drew’s house. He knocked on the door multiple times, but no one came out. “Hey who’s a knockin’?”a funny voice came. An old woman dame from the side of the house. “You looking for the lad who used to live ‘ere?” she asked. Joey nodded his head. “Don’cha know that he left for another city for some job or som--” she continued as Joey interrupted her “WHAT?!” he cried as his body crumpled down, head in arms. He curled into a ball and lay there for a minute or two. He helped himself up and ran back to school.

When Joey reached school, he didn’t know what to do. He walked slowly, to the basketball court. It was already evening and the sun was setting. “Hey Joey!” a voice a voice exclaimed “What are you doing here?” Joey turned back to face hisa class together . “Hey Mr. Lewis.” He replied in a down voice. “What happened? Why’re you here at school?”

“Well…’ Joey said as he explained to his teacher. “Just try going home. I’m sure he’s forgiven you by now.” Mr. Lewis encouraged. “Just go and see.”

Joey entered his house. The living room was still dark. His mom silently stared at him from the couch in the living room. He entered his room and moved his hand to the switchboard to switch the lights on. He sighed. “That man’s not here...” he thought. The next day Joey walked to school. As he entered his classroom, Mr Lewis asked Joey “So, how did it go?”

“Fine. He was not in the house. Like usual.” he replied. He went and put his bag down next to his seat and sat down.

School was over. Joey had stayed back to study. “You studying?” a voice said from behind. He looked back to see Mr. Lewis. “Ya.” Joey replied unenthusiastically.  “The selection for the basketball team is coming up right?”

“Mmhmm...” Joey muttered under his breath

The next day, Joey stayed back again, however he wasn’t studying. The selections for the basketball team had started; Joey had waited since 5th grade to be part of the team, ever since he had been learning from Drew. “Okay… Let’s get started” the teacher said. “So, we’ll have a match between two teams the best people in the match will be in the team.” the teacher segregated the kids into two different teams. The teacher held the ball up in the middle of the court while the teams huddled into their sides of the court. “Okat start!” the teacher shouted as he threw the ball into the air while the two teams jumped to get the ball.

Soon after Joey was running all over the court. He grabbed the ball and ran to the opponents’ basket. He jumped and pushed the ball out of his hand. The ball had just gone through as the teacher said “Stop! The match is over. The results will be posted at the notice board tomorrow.” The next day, the first thing Joey did was run to the notice board. He saw the list posted, and skimmed through the list. His eyes lit up as he saw his name, 7th on the list. He read the line written below: “The first match is on next Saturday”  and he got excited.

Joey’s exams had just started. Since he had been chosen for the basketball team, a huge weight had been taken off his chest. He spent the next week leading up to his exams, studying and practicing for his exam. A few days later he had to do his exams. He was really nervous his dad wouldn’t let him go for the match if he didn’t get good marks. He finished his exams and headed home.

The day after that, Joey headed home after a tiring day at school. He knew that the results were sent to parents today, he was ready for the worst.

“Hey!” Joey’s dad yelled across the living room, as soon as Joey opened the door. The lights were on and the room was cleaned up. He looked up from the floor and saw his dad, not drunk for once, standing near the couch where his mom was lying down . He slowly walked towards them preparing for anything. His head was racing with thoughts. “Is he mad at me?” “Did I do well?” “Am I a goner?” “Did I fail?”  That last thought stuck with him as he reached the couch. “I-I’m sorry” He heard his dad say quietly. Joey looked up to face him as he said “You got a good score . You can go to the game.”

Joey was nervous. His heart was racing at unbelievable speeds. The basketball team members had started to warm up to him, after tons of practice matches. The bus ride was fairly quiet. Everyone got off the school bus and entered Harrison High. The team was lead to the Basketball court . The court was massive. The seating for the spectators stretched across the length of the massive court. Joey stepped into the changing room, along with everyone else, to get ready, for the game in half an hour.

It was time for the game Joey and the team warmed up and get to the stands. He was chosen to play the first quarter. The match started with a jumpball. “Hey pass here I’m free!” Joey yelled as the captain jumped and slapped the ball towards him. “I can do it” “I can do it” he thought as he jumped to catch the ball and started running towards the basket. His feet slammed on the ground as he sprinted, bouncing the ball away from him. As he saw the basket, he jumped thrusting his hand forward. He landed back on his feet as he saw the ball falling into the hands of the opponent. This continued like this every time Joey’s team got the ball, the opponent stole it and scored a basket.

“No!” Joey said as he ran towards his team’s basket to block the ball to not let them get another point. But he was too late. Just as they scored a basket, the referee called “Time!” Joey fell on his back and looked up. I heard a mixture of cheering, screaming and howls of defeat.

Joey reached home to see his dad home early, once again, and his mom in the kitchen. Joey stepped outside to see if he was in the right house. I double checked and saw that i was. He walked in and went to his room he dropped his bag in the room. He was disappointed that his team lost the match. He walked out of his room into the living room and saw some papers on the couch. He walked towards them curiously, and saw his name written there and an ‘A’  next to that. He read a comment next to the grade “Good job Joey! I knew you could do it. -Mr. Lewis”  His eyes lit up as he read that and went through all the papers: He had not only got into the team of the one sport that had always been a part of his life, but he had gotten better at studies.

Sanaya Sarah Chinnadorai - 8IGA - 2018-19

There Is A Rainbow At The End Of Every Storm

Deepika had slept on her study table. The text books were all open around her, the laptop was on with pages and pages of notes. “thap, thap, thap!” Deepika’s mother knocked on the door, waited patiently for a few minutes and slowly walked inside. She carefully picked up the text books and placed on the on Deepika’s bed. Mum gently shook Deepika on her shoulders and whispered, “Deepika you have to get ready, come on”. Deepika woke up, rubbed eyes and wiped her lips. She looked at the looked at the clock, and suddenly got up with a frightened look on her face. Deepika didn’t want to be too harsh to her, because mum has been struggling to walk. Her mum had tendonitis, her tendon was damaged and so she couldn’t walk without feeling pain.

“ Ma, why didn’t you wake me up earlier? Ugh!” Deepika stomped into the bathroom. She scrubbed her face, gargled some mouthwash and stomped back out towards her closet. “Orange and blue right?” Deepika asked in a hurry. Mum was standing at the far corner of the room, staring at Deepika pacing back and forth like an un-tamed dog. “Yes dear”, “Hurry up now, you have ten minutes!”. Mum walked out of Deepika’s room. Deepika buttoned up her shirt, tightened her shorts, slipped on her socks and tied her shoe laces. She hurried towards her bed picked up her books and put them in her bag making she didn’t bend any of them.

Deepika was pretty surprised, she had never been this dis – organized in her life! She grabbed her bag, took her phone in her hand, and ran down the stairs. Fifteen missed calls from; Lily, Prajakta and Patrisha. Deepika switched her phone off and gulped a cold cup of lemonade. Deepika never really ate much in the morning or rather never ate anything besides ‘junk’. At this point nothing really mattered to her other than getting into the car to reach the bus stop. The bus had pulled up right outside the gate. Deepika waited in the car with an irritated look on her face. She was definitely not a morning person.

“God bless, do well!” dad said with a gentle smile on his face. Dad would say that every day. Deepika slammed the door and hoped that the young children don’t chat about superman and would let her sleep in peace.  Deepika had woken up. “ How was your sleep?” Talia said. Talia was her bus friend. Talia was really sweet and friendly, she would know that Deepika wouldn’t be in the mood in the morning to talk. “Um, good I guess?” Deepika said rubbing her eyes. She walked out of the bus and headed towards her class.

Deepika reached the loud and crowded hallways. “Dude, she must slept off!” Patrisha said. Deepika had been studying all night. “Oh! There she is, hi Deepika!” Lily said waving her hand back and forth with excitement. All the three girls were waiting at the entrance for Deepika. Deepika needs simply raised her hand towards them and walked away. “She has changed so much, Deepika needs to know how rude she is becoming”. Prajakta said in concern. The three girls ran towards Deepika, while carrying their heavy bags on their back. “Bro Deepika, all ok?”. Still no reply. Patrisha questioned again, “I called you five times, in fact we all did!”. “ Can you guys leave me alone, I have had enough!” Deepika said while looking into their eyes filled with anger.

She was really angry, stressed and tired, the last thing she needed was her best friends nagging her. “Come let’s go, she is too busy with her studies and sports, there isn’t any room for her best friends!”, Lily said while pulling the girls back in anger. Deepika was feeling bad who she was from the beginning. She wanted to be ‘perfect’. She had this feeling that everyone is good at something or everything, but she wasn’t good at anything. Deepika had forgotten who she truly was. She had been working really hard to be like the ‘other kids’.

Deepika continued to walk ahead towards her class. “They always have to create drama, stresses me out all the time!”, Deepika said to herself. She dropped her bag on the floor, folded her hands and put her head on the table. “Dude you good? , drama huh?” , Pratiksha said to Deepika while pulling up a chair for herself next to Deepika. Deepika slowly picked her head up from the table, and looked at Pratiksha. “Ya perfectly fine, just a little tired” Deepika said with a slight smile on her face. “Oh! Ok …” “ Friends fought with you right?” Pratiksha said. “ Ya, they’re just being insensitive and illogical”, Deepika said irritatedly. “Ugh I hate my life!”

Deepika said that all the pretending that the world was on her head. “It’s ok, I’m lonely too! We could hangout”. Pratiksha asked politely. Deepika giggled and said ,” Ya sure!”. Pratiksha was her new friend. Lily, Pratiksha and Prajakta were still upset with Deepika. Deepika was never like this, she would sort things out and patch up again. She has changed, so she moved on with her new friend.

It had been a week since the drama between Deepika and her best friends, or now enemies? Pratiksha and Deepika seemed to be getting closer day by day. While Deepika was studying and practising for try outs, she was getting more and more tired and stressed. Sleeping late at night and waking up early in the morning didn’t seem very healthy. Monday the start of a boring and tiring week. “Ugh, math first period!” Deepika said while reading the time table pinned up on the board. “Plus Hindi tution, are you serious!”

Deepika had tution almost every day, Friday and Sunday were her off days. Although, she would revise her subjects and go out to play some sports. “Ok children settle down , I have to take attendance”, the teacher yelled while struggling to search for the attendance book. “Deepika?” “Yes ma’am”. Deepika waited for all the names to be called out. The teacher shut the attendance book and yelled once again, “take out your math text books, and start exercise six point one”

“Great, she’s back” Pratiksha said. Lily, Prajakta and Patrisha were giving her stares from the corner of the class. Deepika tried her best to concentrate in every period. “triiing” the bell rang, the first period was over! The second period was physics. “ Kids today, we will be doing an experiment, so be in the lab in five minutes”, the teacher announced to the class with books cupped in her hands. Deepika got up, took the books from her bag and walked out the door with Pratiksha. “Dude, I just went to the mall the other day and I got some stuff!” Pratiksha said in excitement. “Oh, ya really. Nice!” Deepika replied with dis interest. She was starting to worry about the relationship between her ‘old’ best friends.

Deepika walking up the stairs, listening to Pratiksha yapping away. Suddenly, she tripped on her laces and fell flat on her face. She didn’t scream or cry. Deepika picked up her books lifted herself up and continued to walk ahead. Pratiksha kept on asking Deepika if she was okay? Deepika continued to walk and didn’t listen to anything anyone said. The day went by slowly. Deepika reached the bus stop , and limped home. Her foot was wrapped in crepe bandage, she reached home and mum had asked her what happened to her foot. Deepika didn’t answer, she took the pack of chips from the table and walked up to her room.

Mum knew that Deepika needed some space and so didn’t want to bother her by asking again. Deepika never really expressed her feelings she would keep her sadness and stress inside herself. After spending a few minutes having snacks and checking a phone, she sat down to study. “Four to five I will do bio and five to five thirty I will do economics. After that I have Hindi tution. Six thirty to seven thirty I will go out to play and seven thirty to nine I will do some more revision.” Deepika reads out her time table. It was a Friday, Deepika’s favourite day. Her ankle seem to be becoming as the week was ending and so started to practice her sports.

Her parents were not very strict with her, they had a lot of faith and trust in her and knew that she would put her best efforts into everything. Mum and dad knew she was really stressed and so allowed Deepika to play till late evenings. Her friends, were the only people she felt calm with. Basketball try outs were also happening so she spent mornings and afternoons for studies and evenings to practice. She followed her schedule and felt a little weight had been reward from her shoulder.

The weekend passed by quickly. It was another Monday morning. Deepika had woken up by herself. She wondered why her mother didn’t come upstairs to wake up. Deepika got ready, her bag was already packed. She would always  pack her bag the night before. Deepika went down for breakfast. “Mummy’s foot has become really bad. She can’t walk. So please do not trouble her” ,Dad said. “Oh…ok”, Deepika said. Mum’s foot has been for a while, Deepika didn’t know it would become this bad. Mum was sitting on the sofa, “hi” she said with a smile on her face. “Ma, are you ok?”, Deepika said in concern. “Ya, ya just a little pain”, mum said.

It was time for Deepika to go now, “Bye ma, get well soon”. “Yes I will”, mum said waving bye. As usual Deepika slept in the bus, but also prayed to god her mother would get well soon. Dad said they were going to the doctor today. Deepika doesn’t know whether to come back home or do her basketball try outs. Deepika was really confused at this point, she had already lost a lot of people she didn’t want to upset her mother one bit. Pratiksha came running towards Deepika , “How is your foot, if you need any help, I will be here.” “Ya, thank you!”, Deepika said with a slight smile. She wasn’t really comfortable to tell Pratiksha about her personal life, in fact she just wanted to run away and apologize to everyone who she had hurt.

The day passed by and Deepika didn’t know whether to stay back nack for tryouts or back home to help her mom. Lily, Prajakta and Patrisha were teasing her, Pratiksha was yapping away, she was picturing her mother in pain, the teacher was talking about the exams. Deepika couldn’t handle it all, she went to the bathroom locked herself and cried. She was so confused, stressed and in pain. It was like Deepika was hiding behind a mask, her true feelings, her true personality was all behind the mask.

Deepika sat in there for the entire period thinking about what to do and how to get out of this situation. She wiped her tears came outside the bathroom, looked into the mirror to see if her eyes were red. Deepika filled her had with water and splashed her face. She wiped her face with the tissues and headed to class. She was quite upset inside but she made sure no – one knew how she actually felt. Deepika ‘used’ to tell her best friends everything, but now she has no – one to trust! Deepika re – traced her steps, walked back into the bathroom, and thought to herself.

“I mean, how have I changed, why have I changed? I’m trying so hard, I spend half of my day studying and late evenings to play. What am I getting out of this?. It’s not like studies and sports is everything like daddy says, “little bit of everything””. She walked out of the bathroom, with confidence. Deepika knew she would continue to put in hard work , but not to the extent where you lose yourself. Deepika made sure she believed in herself and will let life carry on, after all the storm will end!

Aaryan Maini - 8IG-A - 2018-19

“The Boy Who Followed His Dreams”

David woke up that morning feeling really excited.  He got his studs shinguards and stockings ready and zoomed out to his car screaming!! David was ready he didn’t worry about his height because he knew he was a good player. “Good luck kids” mom said.

His sister Jessica also was going for volleyball and he had football trials. Jessica didn’t have a height problem because she took after dad who was 6’3 and she was 5’10.   Unfortunately David  at 12 took after mom who was only 5’2 and he had not even reached 5 feet tall.

When David reached his school he caught up with his friends and they all went for the tryouts. The coach Mr. Stickenberg made the boys warm up first, but when it came time to play the match he had David sit the bench.  “Why won’t he even give me a chance?”fumed David. “I am better than half of the people out there!”

At the end of the tryouts Mr Stickenberg  told him he is too short and didn’t allow him to play because they thought he might get hurt. David was so sad he ran to his car and went home.

David trudged  in sobbing and slammed his door!! “What happened Honey ?” David’s mom asked as she gave him a hug.

David responded “They didn’t even let me play! The coach said I was too short and that I might get hurt!”

“Honey I am so sorry. That really is unfair!  However, you can not give up on your dreams just because others think you will get hurt. Don’t worry your father was a late bloomer as well.  I am sure their are football  clubs you can play at and keep fighting for your dreams!” his mother advised.

Right at that same moment his sister Jessica came in and announced that she got selected for volleyball. That made David feel worse.  However, he thought about what his mom had said. “I cant change the fact that I am short, but I can work on my diet and how I practice,” David thought. “I am not going to give up on my dream in football”.

Over the next few months David set a plan in motion. He decided he was going to prove Mr. Stickenberg wrong . He started on a healthy diet and went to the gym and committed to himself he was going to work hard to make himself the best player he could be.

Day after Day he ran in the morning, then had a healthy breakfast and headed to practice.  In the afternoon he would practice shooting and dribbling .

That summer his club had a match against Mr. Stickenberg’s son’s team.

David said to himself, “ This is my chance to prove him wrong”.  David’s summer workout had started to show results. In his club David was the most fit and most improved player. His healthy diet even made him grow 3 inches that summer.

When David took the field Mr. Stickenberg didn’t even recognize him.

But when David scored the winner making his team win the game 3-2.

He went to Mr. Stickenberg and thanked him. “ Thanks for not believing in me.  It just made me work harder. I just want you to know no matter who you are or how short you are you can accomplish your dreams with enough will power”.

         

Saketh Jeedigunta - 8IG-A - 2018-19

On a scorching summer afternoon in Spain everyone was having a good day except a 12 year old boy called Gomez. Gomez lived in a small town in Valencia. Gomez loves to dance and even though he was thin and skinny he would somehow pull it off .Gomez was on his way to school for the Annual Teacher Parent Talk where he would receive his grades for his Quarterly Examinations. Gomez along with his parents who are doctors and his sister who studies in the 10^th grade in an another school. His parents being Doctors had rushed to the Biology  aisle on reaching school. They sat down on the chairs in front of Gomez’s desk and shuffled to the experiment sheets and there it was the paper they dug through the paper and saw a big fat (F) on the paper. When they found out that (F) stands for failure .Gomez looks up to see the disappointed look on his parents faces

When they reached home Gomez was given a big lecture by his dad ,”Listen son, it is your mom’s and my dream to see you as one of the most recognized doctor in Spain and you bring out marks like this, it worries us that our dream is going down the drain because you don’t take interest in biology, I mean biology is going to help you later on in your life unlike dance.” says his father. Gomez replies, “But…….”. His Dad replies, “you got bad grades in biology so no dance for you at school until you pass the next examination”. Gomez finds out that his friend Antoine is back from France. Gomez goes to meet Antoine . After Antoine hears the whole story about what happened to Gomez he says , “But isn’t it our dream to dance in front of a huge Spanish multitud (Crowd in Spanish) Gomez replies , “Well Si” , Antoine replies , “Then why Amigo”. Gomez says , “Just give me some time Antoine”. Before Gomez finishes his sentence Antoine leaves.

1 week has past by and a lot has happened since. Antoine stopped speaking to Gomez, Gomez’s Dad stops dance at school and puts him through a lot of pain by starting concentration classes. Gomez is still trying to find solutions to his Biology problem when suddenly his sister passes by, Gomez runs after her and when he catches up with her he asks , “Hermana could you please help me in biology” his sister replies, “Now you have come to your senses”. At the end Gomez does receive help from his dearest Hermana(Spanish for Big Sister)

The Half yearly Examination was only 1 week away and Gomez was all ready for his big moment, his chance to shine. The much awaited day was here at last. Gomez walks into the examination room, his heart pounding, his body shaking. Gomez had received his paper and when the clock struck 9:00. The teacher said, “Start!”. Gomez’s eager eyes turned to the paper as his hands wrote away. After the examination Gomez had a very nervous.

One month later Gomez and his family were once again going to school but this time to see the grades for the Half yearly grades. Once again they rushed to the Biology aisle shuffled through the Experiment sheets but this time to find an (A+) on his paper. Gomez had gotten 100%. Gomez was really happy. When he went to convey the message to Antoine he saw a car followed by a moving van. When he went to inquire he found out that Antoine has permanently left to France. Gomez ran as fast as he can to catch up to the car but he was cut off near the French Highway. Gomez experienced a heartbreak. He never felt like this ever before, he felt a feeling of confusion and disappointment. Gomez sobbing went home and when his Mother saw him she went to console him and Gomez said, “Antoine left to France and I have no other friends, I don’t want to live anymore” , his Mother replies “My little hijo don’t talk like that, you should never let little things decide your life, that’s  just e’stupido.” Gomez wipes his tears off.

One month later, Gomez is a totally new kid. The difference is that the old Gomez was a dancer but the new one is a biologist. Gomez shows a special interest in Biology that was not shown when he liked dance. Gomez started dissecting plants and animals, exploring every nook and corner of the Human Body and Surprisingly! Found a new passion in Biology

  

Joe Alapat - 8IG-A - 2018-19

“Where ya goin lil fella” tormented Dennis. “Football” replied Jack hesitantly. Whenever fella was included in one of Dennis’ sentences the ending was never good. Sure enough this was no exception, Dennis stepped in front of the exit. Jack eventually ended up doing something he would regret for the rest of his life. Jacks’ popularity couldn’t do anything to save him. Dennis had chosen his time carefully. 2:45. School was over there was no one in school except him, Dennis and the other kids on the field. No witnesses for Jack. The perfect situation for a bully like Dennis without many friends. Jack tensed up. He rooted his foot into an offensive stance. Something he had picked up in Karate. Unfortunately Jack had to be on the field in exactly one minute and that was not going to happen if they kept staring at each other. AS Jack pulled his hand up he already regretted it but there was nothing he could do to stop it. His hand inched closer to Dennis’ face, both Jack and Dennis had a face of astonishment. As Jacks’ right hand caused ripples on Dennis’, Dennis let out a scream. He fell to the floor either from shock or pain. Jack let out a gasp full of regret. He didn’t know what to do. He just walked down to the field, with sweat in his hands, fear in his face and a head full of regret. As he walked onto the turf, he was met by the coach. Coach spoke first saying “I’m going to need it tomorrow, Jack, tomorrow.”  

·         *

“Hey dad” said Jack as he entered through the front door. ”Can you sign this ” asked Jack as he pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper and handed it over to his dad. “Coach wants it tomorrow and this time I’m tired of losing to Senfield”,”we’re going to win this year”. Jack’s dad replied saying “Here you go and don’t forget to do your Bio homework”. Jack replied by pulling out a clean white sheet of paper saying “Already done it”, “I have practice tomorrow morning”. Jack didn’t mention anything about Dennis. He wasn’t sure how his dad would react.

·         *

Jack observed the bending of the grass that was blown gently by the breeze. The flowers swayed and trees shook their leaves. To any other person it looked like a normal and rather beautiful summer day, but not to Jack. He could tell that face from a mile away. The face of Dennis Lutcher. Standing less than a meter from the football field he let out a smile. “How’s your face” asked Jack who was immediately filled with regret and stupidity. Dennis pulled out a book. Not any book. Jacks’ diary. Jack was filled with shock , he stood there lifeless. That was when Dennis made his move. He ran towards the entrance to school. The other kids weren’t going to see that diary. Certainly not without a fight. Dennis was still catching up with the other kids when a leg tripped him from behind. Dennis fell face flat on the polished marble floor. Jack stood above him still retracting his leg. He bent down and almost collapsed when he saw that there was no diary. Dennis turned around with a lot of struggle, his lip was bleeding but he still uttered the word “PAYBACK”. “FOR GODS’ SAKE CAN’T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOR ONCE??????WILL YOU EVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LKE TO BE ME? I MEAN SURE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN I’M BEING BULLIED? YA’ THINK I LIKE YOU BULLYING ME?” screamed Jack. He had  had enough. “huh, what about me? You ever think ’bout how I feel? I just wanted a friend and when I came to you, you shut me out. You ever wonder how that felt?” said Dennis as he got up and paced away. The exit door still swinging. Jack stopped. He was shocked. He dragged himself home with hate. It took him a whole night to figure out what to do.

·         *

The next morning he found himself in Coach McKells room asking him for Dennis to be in his room. “It’s either Dennis on the team or I’m leaving” exclaimed Jack. Coach was caught by surprise, he said “but……Jack I can’t…””I QUIT” said Jack as he exited the office. It took him longer than Jack had expected but it happened. “Dennis’s number 8 and he better be good or you’re both out of the team” said coach. Jack couldn’t help but smile.

·         *

“Dennis down the line” screamed Jack as he played the ball through two defenders. Dennis understood and he was chasing after the ball. With only the goalkeeper to pass, Dennis slid the ball into the bottom corner of Senfield high school. ”YEAHHHHHHH” said Dennis as he Brookland high school swarmed onto him. The match was over and Dennis had scored the winning goal with only seconds left on the clock. “Good job mate”said Jack. “Couldn’t have done it without you” replied Dennis.

Shreya Mittal - 8IG-A - 2018-19

A DREAM TO FULFILL!

Charlie Sammuels isn’t your ordinary teenage boy who is passionate for football. Instead, he loves ballet. Charlie and his sister, lily always danced together. Lily had cancer yet, she danced with him everyday. Like she always said “dance can solve all your problems. It is the cure to diseases and the joy to your sadnesses. If you do not dance everyday, you aren’t living life to its fullest.” well, that’s what she used to say until she left. Before that she held his hand and said “promise me that no matter what happen, you will always dance. Join the school team like we dreamed of, become a star and go to broadway!” “i promise Lily, i promise!” he wrapped his warm hands around her cold body.

He cried for months. His eyes became red and the tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down his face, but he stuck to his promise and never stopped dancing. In fact, he was practising all summer for the school tryouts.

ON THE DAY OF TRYOUTS!

Charlie at first was very excited. He was already wearing his favourite black and blue ballet costume. He bounced, he pounced, he squealed and he ran. As his grin got wider, everyone around him started to smile. Even his grumpy neighbour! It was as if he was bursting with liquid sunshine from within.

Later, he realised that he had boiled the kettle already for the fourth time that morning. He had taken another quick glance at the digital clock of the oven, only to confirm that time was slowing down, his stomach knotted up.

After reaching school, Charlie sat in the hallway, waiting for the results. Charlie rocked back and forth on the plastic chair, not noticing how small it was for him. He choked down the rising bile and consciously flexed his hand. As he looked around he could sense the presence of his sister.

At last, Miss Gilbert came running with the results. Although nervous, charlie was confident. Barging through the crowd, he took a quick glance at the sheet. He did not see his name. So he looked at it carefully, still no sight of his name. Charlie was devastated, he could feel his eyes ready to burst out, without any shame as if no one were around. Miss Gilbert announced “there is one more spot left for any girl who wants to join.” Charlie wiped his tears and walked up to her, hoping he could re-audition. He asked her “good morning. I was looking through the list and I did not see my name. Did I do something wrong in my audition? It must have been my turns. No! My kicks. Maybe my-” “Master Charlie!” Miss Gilbert replied. “I’ll re-audition. Im sorry. Please!” Charlie continued. Miss Gilbert shouted “i’m sorry Charlie but boys can’t dance. Go do something man like…..football for example! For this team we need the best. In a few weeks Cassandara Brooke will come to view the team to see if we are fit for the world cup and we cannot have any boys mess it up.” “but-” Charlie tried to speak. “Have i made myself clear?” she asked in a strict tone. “Yes!” Charlie answered in disappointment.

Throughout the night he tossed and turned. A long lasting haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of his mind but was too far to reach. He tried to make himself fall asleep but he couldn’t. He kept thinking about how he needed that spot and how dance made him feel ‘when i dance with the wind and no care for where my feet land or when i twirl, i feel freedom. Any step i take is the right step and any turn is perfection. It’s not rules that creates order, it’s a happy kind of chaos that does.’ Thinking about this Charlie was not ready to disappoint his sister and give up on his promise yet.

Finally Charlie remembered about a book he read, from that he thought about the most perfect plan and was going to start work as soon as the sun came out.

First thing in the morning, Charlie takes his mother’s laptop and forges a note to the principal saying:

Dear Mr Degrasso,

Charlie will not be attending school for a while because of the loss this family had. I hope you understand. Also, my niece, Natalie has just moved from chicago. She lives with us and is hoping to start school today and join the dance team. She looks alot like Charlie so you may get confused.

Along with Charlie, I also want to take a break so please do not respond to this message as I will not open them.

Thank you!

• Carol

After Charlie’s mom left for work, he took a few of his sisters clothes and put them on.

Afterwards, he snuck out some of his mom’s makeup and put it on. This part was easy. His mom was a makeup artist. Hence, she would always bring someone home  and dress them up. As a child, he loved watching this and became an expert himself.

Putting the wig on was the hard part. He could never understand where the clips would go. Therefore, after many tries he decided to skip that part and be Natalie with short hair.

His plan was perfectly thought out and well executed. No one realised that he was Charlie. Afterall, Charlie always did consider them ‘dull witted.’

Charlie never got caught.

Until his mom stomped in, shouting “Charlie why are your sisters clothes in your cupboard? I had told you to pack all of them for donation so that we could help out a poor kid who needs these!”

Charlie calmly replied as if he didn’t need them which he didn’t. From now on he only needed his ballet costume, for full day practise until show day.

After a few days, Charlie’s mom received a mail from the principal saying…..

 Dear Miss Norberry,

I hope you and your family are doing well and took the rest you guys needed.

Your niece is lovely and is a beautiful dancer!

I was hoping to know when Charlie will be coming back to school.

Charlie’s mom was confused. Slowly her confusion turned into anger. She ran into Charlie’s room in frustration “Charlie, what is this? You sent a mail to the principal telling him that you aren’t going to school! Then where have you been?” “no, mom. It’s not like that.” Charlie replied. “Then why are you missing school? And who is my niece?”

 Charlie kept quiet. “ Charlie Sammuels, if you do not answer me right now, YOU’RE GROUNDED!” “mom please. You don’t understand!” said Charlie. “Then make me understand!” his mom cried. “okay!” Charlie yelled. “Just sit down, please.”

Charlie explained why he did what he did…..

“Charlie, why didn’t you tell me. I would have given that teacher a piece of my mind! I can’t believe you did this all for your sister. I’m so proud of you!” she hugged Charlie.

Later she tells him “we can’t keep this a secret, we will have to tell the teachers who you are soon and tomorrow is the show!” charlie nodded.

On show day

Charlie was very excited, but he kept thinking about what his mom said. He knew he had to tell the teachers some day.

He was very excited about the show. Although, he wished his sister could watch him finally fulfill his dream. But he wasn’t nervous at all as he imagined his sister standing beside him, holding his hand.

After a magical performance, the audience applaud for Charlie. Going backstage, his face started to burn, not remembering that he faked being a girl, he started to remove all his makeup. Miss Gilbert standing right around the corner saw him. She was furious. “I thought i told you that you can’t join the team! You disobeyed me!” “but, but… i was the lead dancer, you thought i was goo-” “don’t even complete the word! All boys are bad at dancing.” Miss Gilbert exclaimed. Little did she know that her mike was on. The audience were shocked “nonsense” and “horrible” everyone bellowed. Ms Brooke scurried to the back stage. “Uh- Miss Gilbert your mike is on!” “really? oh, that’s so unfortunate!” Miss Gilbert tried to smile, as if she didn’t just humiliate herself in front of the worlds best dancer  and an auditorium full of people. “Whatever you just said is unacceptable. This boy is amazing. He dances with a passion that brings every performance to life. I’m sorry Ms Gilbert but if you don’t let this boy be on the team then you and your dance crew will not be accepted to dance this year at the world 78th international dance world cup.” Miss Gilbert could not say no. After all, her team had never got an opportunity as well deserved as this. Charlie was finally accepted onto the team. As for all the other boys who loved dancing, got into the team after Charlies actions. He had set an example for other kids, he taught people to follow their dreams and to never give up. He became a role model just like his sister always wanted him to be……

Charlie lay under a sky of midnight velvet. Matte coal black uncontrollably covered in millions of bright specks. He looked up at the stars. As the light twinkled, Charlie searched for the brightest star “I miss you every single day and it’s been very hard. But you were right, dance fixes everything. I got into the team! I wish you were here with me but you aren’t. I will always continue dancing and will do you proud.” Charlie smiled.