SUPERWOMAN
BY SUMMER HENDERSON
This was definitely a superwoman situation. It couldn't have been worse. The old lady screamed for a second time as the escalator growled like a hungry tiger. I could tell by the way the escalator winked at me, the old lady could well be in trouble. I had to move fast. Click. I wizzed into gear at breakneck speed down the escalator to a the horrified ancient lady. Rip, wreck and run were the three main words I was thinking. A satisfied tug and she was out.
Roaring into the library earlier on to find the best book of lovey, dovey romance (page turner). The first four books I yanked down so happened to be what I was sniffing out. Dragging them to the escalator, one of the many in the building. Stuffing the books into my bag I looked about.
Down below me was an old lady in a beautiful flowery drees all the way down to her feet, a bright pink cardy with lace at the end and her shoes were those types that old Grandmas wear. At this moment of thinking all those things it happened.
She let out a shriek of terror as she glanced down at her hand where her laced pink cardy snagged, like a fish caught on a line and was stretched to its depth of snapping.
I recalled thinking that I wasn't going to make it in time for her, replacing that thought with a shredding sound of clothing as my hand struck home.
Ripping, wrecking and then running.
Helping her down the staircase one little baby step at a time. She was puffing like a horse, her throat was having trouble spitting the words out. We were at the end of a 'long road to hell', finishing the stairs with a flick of my heels. We paused for a moment at the bottom of the steps and her mouth blew off like a bomb with words a mile a minute. My brain was wizzing with her voice stuck inside, bouncing against the walls.
She thanked me over and over again. "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm cool." She let go of my hand for a minute and I flew to those automatic doors. Jumped the stairs and I was away moving, driving, then home. Nice hot bath and ear plugs I was thinking.
AMAZING SAVE !
By Hugo Eaton
A ROCKY ROAD
Splash!
A bucket of cold white water had hit me in my startled face. I went cold, my heart was in my mouth, I was hanging on as hard as I could. My fingers were going white, but I still held on as hard as I could. Another splash of freezing cold white water. Then there was a horrible sound, it was the sound of thunder... rumble, rumble, rumble, BOOM....!
I waited for the flash of lightning, but it did not come, I closed my eyes wishing I was back in my soft, warm bed, but then we stopped going up and down and I was safe in the calm water bobbing up and down on a red and black raft.
We started to paddle Dad was saying, “Left side paddle hard,”and “Backward paddle now,” but then he said, “BIG rapid coming up.“ My stomach clenched, my heart was beating faster and faster. We were twelve metres away, nine metres, three metres, thirty centimetres and then we hit it. I went flying straight into my paddle. I felt blood in my mouth, saw redness on my fingers, I felt the warmth of it, my face was wet I was crying, the tears rolled down my face, my lip was cut open. Dad was saying, “Hold on Nicole we are nearly there,”and he was right, we paddled around the corner and there was the domain, my spirits lit up dramatically. My feet were on the ground once more. I had made it.
Like Rain On a Window.
The days rolled by, yet another operation. The day that Mum dreaded and never wanted to happen. The long journey had begun.
Five hours is long enough, too long. The suspense grew and grew as we got closer to the one place that we hoped would fix my sister. Mum kept the conversation going trying to steer her mind away from the life threatening operation that was about to be performed on her daughter.
We arrived at Starship Hospital in Auckland and walked inside. A cold shiver slithered up my spine pulling me inside the dark, terrifying, ghostly building. The nurse escorted us to Ashley’s room, (Ashley’s my sister.) A blue gown was laid on her bed and she soon slipped into it. The torture had begun.
Ashely’s surgeon walked into her room and introduced himself. He said that we had half an hour left with her until the surgery would begin. The surgeon flicked a smile, gave Ashley some laughing gas and he was gone.
Mum asked Ashley if she was ready to go, but all that filled her ears was the giggling sound that was flowing from her mouth. Mum started laughing and the room was a happy place for that period of time. The nurses came to the door to take Ashley away. They pulled up the side barriers making her look like she was being locked up in prison. I turned and looked at mum, a tear rolled down her face like rain on a window. It was a sad moment and the last thing that we saw of Ashley was her waving goodbye. Beep, beep, beep...the surgery had begun.
The time went slowly and everyone was on edge, it was like walking on eggshells, not wanting any to break. Mum paced up and down the corridor waiting for the time to go by. All I could think of was just one slip and she could be gone.
Moments later, the surgeon walked out of theatre with a grin on his face. The surgery was done. Relief rushed through my body. The room lit up as soon as the nurses walked in with Ashley. Mum started crying, again, but this time it was tears of joy, the good kind. Ashley did not look good, she had tubes coming from all directions and a massive scar that ran down her chest, but that was not what mattered, what mattered was she was alive.
Ashley stayed in hospital for another three weeks and was able to walk soon after the operation. Once we had taken her home she had to have close medical attention and checkups every now and then. Since the operation, the condition had come back and we hoped she wouldn’t have to go through that torture again.
By Kristen Longstaff
MY FOREIGN NIGHTMARE
They left me... they left me in a foreign train station.
They left me... they left me in a foreign train station.
You see, we were on a holiday in Spain and we had just arrived in Seville.
It was trolley time, as I slotted in the euro and put on the luggage. I warmed up my legs for take off and zoom! I was off. I went around a corner with a screech of the back tyre and as soon as it started it stopped, we were outside waiting for the two dreadful taxis. Waiting and waiting and finally they came, we put our luggage in and I went to put the trolley back, click the euro dropped out, I bent over to pick it up and when I turned around they were gone I didn't know where they were gone, but they were gone.
I went back to where they left me because my Dad always told me to stay where I was, so I did. Constantly scanning heads to see if my Dad’s shiny head or my brother’s radioactive hair was shining above the crowd, but I didn't. I waited for ten minutes, no they weren’t there. I waited for fifteen and some of the taxi drivers were looking at me with their big, brown eyes and their bushy, brown moustaches. Twenty minutes floated by and I was completely surrounded by fifty taxi drivers all saying words I couldn't understand and when I thought it could not get worse the cops came.
‘Are you ...ahhh... lost?’ the cop said.
‘Yes,’ I said weeping.
‘We ...ahhh... take you to police station?’ the cop said.
‘No,’ I said.
‘I will just stay here,’ I said.
Twenty minutes later I was starting to get worried and cried. “Where are they?” I said to myself.
A taxi pulled up and the window went down... it was my brother. Sam did not say anything just a flick of the hand. I ran towards him in happiness, the tears of sadness turned to tears of happiness. I dived into the car and started to drive away and in doing so all of the bushy moustache people cheered and whistled and as we drove away the noise got quieter and quieter. By Hugo Eaton
The White Flag Of Defeat And Cowardice
The battle was over, I had won, the enemy had raised the white flag of defeat and cowardice. The battle had not left pure devastation, it had left the cleanest battle field in history.
It all started at dinner. I was staring at it, taking in its menacing profile. From its round curves to its blank, creepy eyes and its sticky buttons. The fire in my eyes could not express my hatred for... dun dun dun the dishwasher (I think it’s the most evil kitchen appliance).
When dinner ended Mum said, “Try do the job quickly, I know your reputation for spending a day and an age in the kitchen.”
“Aye I know”, I said miserably. So I grabbed myself a bottle of soap and a dishcloth and braced myself for the tidal wave of battle that would come.
“Aye I know”, I said miserably. So I grabbed myself a bottle of soap and a dishcloth and braced myself for the tidal wave of battle that would come.
As Mum piled the plates around me I realised just how deep I had been thrown into the dirty pool that was the kitchen. I was surrounded by dirty dishes, my head was spinning, The stench of grease overwhelmed me, but I saw a speck of light that had penetrated the black wall of evil and realised that I could win!
Jumping up, I grabbed one of the plates and shot a blast of soap at it and ran it under the tap. One down, quite a few to go.
The battle was not going so well, fifteen minutes in I had to retreat and plan my next assault. I asked Mum what to do with the scraps of food that were causing most of the chaos slopping around making everything more dirty. She told me to put them in the insinkerator. The insinkerator, it’s the secret weapon that I didn’t know about, it's my battalion of extra troops, it’s my way to victory!
Charging into the kitchen I grabbed the first three plates in front of me, scraped the food into the insinkerator and flicked it on. Vvvrrrr, the noise was deafening and the vibration made the whole kitchen shiver with fright. After repeating my actions to clean all of the plates the kitchen looked almost clean. All that was left was to put was to put the dishes away and clean the surfaces, but the kitchen had one more trick up its sleeve, I had to unpack the dishwasher. After the main battle the dishwasher looked ten times its size(because I was so tired).
It was tedious and very boring unpacking the dishwasher, but I stuck to it and soon enough the job was finished. I gave the surfaces a quick wipe down and smiled, happy with the night's work, but Mum came along and popped my bubble of happiness by saying, “There’s another six days of this Chris”.
By Christopher Headey
THE TRAGIC SIGHT
By Corbin Giddy
I raced home on my bike like a Formula 1 driver, flying around the corner, with a skid. I raced up the hill suddenly I stopped with a screech.
I was left staring at the most terrible tragic sight. I couldn’t believe my eyes I blinked hoping and praying it was a dream .... but realised soon it wasn’t.
I jumped off my bike like James Bond was jumping out of a car on fire. I sprinted inside yelling and shouting ...
“What! What!” Mum replied.
“On the deck,” I moaned.
She went outside... and saw the horrible, horrid sight, she was left staring at my dog in pain and suffering, gasping for every breath.
“Well he looks like he has been run over and left here to suffer.”
Mum rang Dad, a little while later he came, we went to the vet. He said it was best to put him down.
“NO!” I thought sadly.
My heart shattered into millions of pieces, I thought it would never heal again. It never felt the same without him. Days went by, but time didn’t heal, I couldn’t take my mind off him.
We decided to bury him in my Uncle’s paddock.
It still didn’t make us feel any better, more days went on and on, I really did miss him.
I thought to myself, “Nothing’s gonna make me feel any better.”
Then the day finally came.
“What do you think?” asked Dad
He’s perfect! I said bursting with happiness.
I was staring at this beautiful white and black English Pointer!
My heart was finally healed once again!
A ROCKY ROAD
Splash!
A bucket of cold white water had hit me in my startled face. I went cold, my heart was in my mouth, I was hanging on as hard as I could. My fingers were going white, but I still held on as hard as I could. Another splash of freezing cold white water. Then there was a horrible sound, it was the sound of thunder... rumble, rumble, rumble, BOOM....!
I waited for the flash of lightning, but it did not come, I closed my eyes wishing I was back in my soft, warm bed, but then we stopped going up and down and I was safe in the calm water bobbing up and down on a red and black raft.
We started to paddle Dad was saying, “Left side paddle hard,”and “Backward paddle now,” but then he said, “BIG rapid coming up.“ My stomach clenched, my heart was beating faster and faster. We were twelve metres away, nine metres, three metres, thirty centimetres and then we hit it. I went flying straight into my paddle. I felt blood in my mouth, saw redness on my fingers, I felt the warmth of it, my face was wet I was crying, the tears rolled down my face, my lip was cut open. Dad was saying, “Hold on Nicole we are nearly there,”and he was right, we paddled around the corner and there was the domain, my spirits lit up dramatically. My feet were on the ground once more. I had made it.
By Nicole Cayzer
DRAMA QUEEN
By Georgia Scott
Vroom, vroom, the car backed out, "Yay we're going shopping." I exclaimed (I'm always happy when we go shopping). I sprung down the steps to the bottom.
Suddenly my mood had gone. Gone like the wind in a storm, my face was as white as a ghost. Then mum popped the question..... "Do you want to get your ears pierced?"
"Um, ahh, yep," I muttered unsteadily. We waited in line.
The suspense was killing me. "Arghh I can't take it anymore!" I bellowed. The shop was frozen like an ice block, "Oopps sorry," I said apologetically. Then my shame was gone, they carried on with their day. This is it, the moment of truth.
"Hello madam," a gentle voice whispered from behind the counter.
"Hi can I please get my ears pierced?" I asked.
"Sure, sure come right this way," the gentle voice appeared again. "I'll be with you in a moment." I sat down in a mushroom coloured leather chair.
I'd rather have been eaten by an alligator. My heart was pounding two hundred beats per minute. Then finaily the shopkeeper walked into the dark, gloomy room. "Which earrings would you like?"
"These ones please." I pointed to a small pair of diamonds as they glistened in the light.
She prepeared them into what looked like a gun, but was hopefully not. I had hitmen on eithier side of me. I was about to jump out of my skin. As they closed in they lowered the gun to my head, both simultaneously they shot, Mum couldn't look. They said one, two, three, bang! My life had ended, a sudden death. "All done." That polite, positive voice lingered in the air again. "What, I'm alive?" Then laughter filled the room.
"Oh that's my blond daughter," Mum said with a wide grin. Then I joined in with the laughter. We walked out of the shop with a skip in our step. Mum said, "Ahh you're a goof ball aren't you."
"Yep, yep I am."
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
BY ALICE HORNE
I waited and waited. Waited for my turn. The smell of petrol and excitement dueled in my nose, the sweet but ‘too cool’ voice of my sister Jane, pounded in my ear.
BY ALICE HORNE
I waited and waited. Waited for my turn. The smell of petrol and excitement dueled in my nose, the sweet but ‘too cool’ voice of my sister Jane, pounded in my ear.
“You’ll never be able to do it Alice, you almost cried when you tried last time.”
But I was determined. I, Alice Horne could conquer this wakeboard. I will rise to the challenge!
So that's...what I did. I jumped into the water with joy, like a fish that had just been released to freedom. The weed slid through my toes...but then SPLASH! Dad had tossed the wakeboard into the icy blue water. The thought of wakeboarding dawned on me, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I finally slipped my feet into wakeboard, nervously waiting for the ski rope. The boat circled me like I was a piece of meat in the middle of a school of sharks. Reality clicked, I was there holding the ski rope, knees bent with wakeboard horizontal. The voice of Dad yelled. “Are you ready ?”.
My voice wobbled as I said yes. I shut my eyes tight, squeezed the ski handle......... VROOM........POOF ! False start. The engine had blown. “GRR,” I thought to myself. Now I had to relive that moment. The long process started all again, boat circling me, grabbed ski handle knees crouched with board horizontal, but there was no time to wait. I screamed at the top of my lungs “YES....!”
“VROOOOOOOOM ! ”
I was up. Up on top. The moment was magical, I was walking on water (literally). My body filled with joy as I went across the wake. I waved to my Mum who was laughing, in the observer’s seat, but the best part was seeing the look on Jane’s face. Hahahahahaha and she thought I couldn’t do it! But soon she was smiling, smiling as her little sister had finally accomplished something. Suddenly I saw a metal boat pounding on the waves that our boat had made and it was approaching fast. Not caring that a learner was on the back trying to wakeboard. My face dropped. Waves were starting to come my way.
“Oh no,” I thought to myself, but as I said before, nothing was going to stop me. I gripped the rope tightly almost up to breaking point. My feet tried to grip, but the water made them slip...and SPLAT!
After I had recoverd from my fall, it was time to pack up our gear and head home. The long, but windy road back to home felt like it took forever. My eyes shut slowly like my batteries needed charging, but as I was sleeping, the car suddenly stopped. I opened my eyes and I looked to the left. The sign of “The Northen Dairy” flashed in my eyes.
“Icecream,” I thought to myself. I quickly unclicked my seatbelt and opened the car door, running towards the The Northen Dairy’s double doors. But Dad had beaten me to it, he came out with four icecreams! My two favourite flavours (goody goody gum drops and gold rush) were piled on top of the cone, plus (my mouth fell) it had been chocolate dipped! The chocolate oozed and it trickled down the cone and on to my hand, but I could honestly say I had earned that icecream. My mission was accomplished, the mission to conquer the wakeboard.
After the recent Christchurch Earthquake the children wrote poems to portray what the people of Christchurch have been through, are going through and are yet to go through after this disaster. Chris, Callum and Tylo got to show their poems to Mr Greer. We had an assembly and two minutes silence in respect of the people of Christchurch and the three boys were asked to present their poems at this event. They did so very well.
Our Darkest Day
The sorrow we feel for the people of Christchurch
Burns through our hearts
As the tears rush down our faces
The heroes among us
Fight for their survival
Climb up the rubble to see the aftermath
Of destruction and chaos
There is light at the end of the tunnel
We will rise up from the destruction
Once more
We will fight back
Christchurch will live again
So we will stop the trauma
Reunite families
Rebuild lives
We will stop at no end to make Christchurch a
Thriving
Beautiful
Safe city
Again
We feel your pain
We feel your hurt
So we will have Christchurch stand tall and proud
Once more
By Chris Headey
Six Point Three by: Tylo Murphy
One second standing and another second not
Christchurch was shaking, the lot
People devastated on the ground
Buildings falling, crushing was the sound
People of Christchurch were thinking, wondering why me
This violent earthquake
A massive six point three
Loved ones missing and gone
Loved ones missing and gone
At least the earthquake is done
The rescuers are in
Once a standing building
Now a horrifying lump of concrete and tin
People are stuck
And on the streets of Christchurch
A shocking lot of muck
Don’t worry it’s not a you, it’s an us
This shocking event was a fuss
We are there for you
And other countries too
So come people come
The people of New Zealand, we are one
The Christchurch Earthquake
Sucked in, chewed up and spat out
The disaster beyond a disaster
The tragedy beyond a tragedy
A test for all of New Zealand
Lives were shattered
And the disaster stretches on
Buildings lie in ruins with the people
The air is filled with loss
Of Christchurch’s darkest day
Bodies are found under piles of rubble
There are no words to describe the loss
No loss is filled, the wait kills
Death and destruction are on the highest scale
People are already rebuilding their lives
Christchurch will rise again
Your humanity is more powerful than any act of nature
The agony of waiting for loved ones
Panic breeds panic and wounded spirits
But hope still lingers
Christchurch will rebuild itself
Christchurch will rise again
By Callum Milner
INTERNATIONAL DISASTER
Christchurch is shaking
People trapped
Struggling, destroyed and ruined
Tourist attractions torn apart
Furious ground, ripped and broken
Lives shaken up
People looking after people
Loved ones lost
A picture of panic, and confusion in front of us
Your tragedy is our tragedy
Violent Mother Earth has woken
With families missing, what will the future hold
We will replenish Christchurch with pleasure
We are all touched by your survival stories
And we are proud of your bravery
Christchurch, our thoughts and prayers are with you
By Alice Horne
THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE
Disaster struck
All our homes shaken
Everyone turned and ran
Trying with all their might
Just to get away
People trapped by rubble and rock
All have the survivor spirit
On the outside the mourning begins
Why today, why today
Outside the scene of tragedy
As people work together
Saving the people who weren’t so lucky
On the streets people tell
Their unbelievable stories
“I thought I was going to die”
“It’s so unfair”
People are irreplaceable
Mates are lost
But Christchurch will return
The world is with you
It will be a massive task
But you will recover
Christchurch has the pioneering spirit
The world is becoming closer to the people
We will work together
You will survive
BY JACK BOON
CATASTROPHE
6.3
Rumble and thud
Slammed into the ground
Terrified shriek
Encased people, building’s a cell
Some feel blessed
Some ask why
Rubble, blood, pain
Critical case, some dead
Lucky to be alive
Our darkest day
Loss is sharpened by fear
We are behind you
Your tragedy is ours
Ones alive will survive
All mad at nature
Why, Why?
We are strong together
Let’s move through this
We shall rebuild
Pancake buildings shall rise
Rebuild our city and soul
Come back proud and strong
We shall demolish nature
As it did to you
By Kathryn Berrie
SHATTERED
New Zealand’s darkest day,
6.3 terrorizes Christchurch,
Mayhem on the streets and aching hearts,
Devastation sweeps over the city,
Christchurch we feel your pain,
Trapped people lying in rubble,
Overwhelming shock looms over Christchurch,
Loved ones working together,
A shattered and shaken city lying in ruins,
Horrific damage to a perfect city,
Search and rescue one massive task lying ahead,
Violent and ruthless act of nature,
We will get through this.
By Danielle
New Zealand's darkest day
Shaken and destroyed
Struck with pain and tragedy
A picture of panic and confusion
Death, dangerous and shattering
Lucky to be alive
Blessed and fortunate
Buildings are buildings, roads are roads
But people are irreplaceable
Working together, this emergency we face
In this together
Heroes amongst us
Ruins, damage and challenging tasks
Missing family, seriously injured
Lives lost
Our darkest day
Thoughts and prayers
Together we will get through this
Lucky to be alive, rise to challenges
Heroes amongst us
Rescuing, saving, lives, hopes and dreams
As a small nation we come together
We will work together
We will get through this
We feel your pain
BY LEXIE
The Christchurch Quake
Not a single tear drop in the sky
But soon there would be
Many more tears falling
Waves of ground
Sharpened by fear
Irreplaceable lives
People becoming heroes
Critical conditions
One way out
Agony with waiting
Fires to contain
We won’t give up hope
Terrifying tragedies taking place
Missing people
Searching loved ones
Assistance
“ We will give what ever you need just ask”
Safe shelters
Help needed
Water, food, sleep and hope
A temporary home
Attempted laughter
It feels so wrong
Like you’d never do it again
Not a joke for us
We will breathe for Christchurch
Touched with this event
Get through it with all the might you have
And hold on
Christchurch with rise again
BY LOUISE STEPHENSON
SHATTERED
By finn Greig
City in ruins
Hole in its heart
Rubble everywhere
All in despair
Sirens everywhere
Trouble all over
Cherished loved ones lost
Hope lost
Remarkably horrible
Rebuilding everything
Coming back
Hope is coming
That 6.3 shock
It ruined everything
All shattered
Our darkest day
Buildings are buildings
Roads are roads
But people are irreplaceable
Smoldering rubble
Lives are lost
Trapped survivors
Death and destruction
Wreckage everywhere
Christchurch will stand up again
TOM THUMB STORIES-MARCH
When Mrs Wichman said with an excited tone that we were all going to do Tom Thumb stories we were all thinking, “Aren’t they for babies?” But it turned out that it was harder than it looked. First off we had to draft them and then go through our class's correction procedure. When they were set to go we published them on a comic strip type sheet. We then had to act like criminals doing a thumb print for the police. That thumb print became the body of our main character, Tom Thumb. Next we used our shading pencils and sketched in the backgrounds and other parts of Tom Thumb. Some of the situations that Tom Thumb got himself into in these stories was; he got a girlfriend, had heroic adventures, went scuba diving and was chased by a shark, met Count Dracula, went elephant riding, got stuck in the freezer while on a tour around it by plane, went to the firing range and many more exciting things. Our class took them to a junior room and shared the exciting stories with them. They really enjoyed them in a way that was very unpredictable and often cute. They came out with some funny comments such as asking how Tom got his girlfriend! The senior pupil later told Mrs Wichman that if she had known she was going to share it with little kids she wouldn't have written a story about boyfriends and girlfriends! When one of the boys in our class asked his junior buddy, "Do you want me to read my story to you?" his reply was "No", until he was won over when he was told there were sharks in it! Typical honest little kid. A couple of kids were really engrossed in the story being shared with them and had their finger up their nose at the same time!
So it turned out to be a great success, we loved doing them and the juniors enjoyed sharing them. Don’t they look fab!
By Summer
Our homework this week was to find an interesting topic, scientifically think of some questions and answer those fancy questions. After that we had to make it all look pretty and 'Mrs Wichman proof' by writing them on a yellow A-4 card and sticking lined paper to them. They varied from ants, 350 year old wood buried in the ground, lightbulbs, cicada shells, solar lighting, cricket balls that had been chopped up, irons, a gigantic piece of pumice, pumpkin vines, toothpaste, batteries, yoghurt, bike pumps and heaps more, an amazing variety. We had two weeks to answer two questions, which was pretty easy homework. Some people made it complicated with detailed explanations and some did it easy and slacked off like me.
byN8h0v3n
