Short Story by Mia Cooper Age 11
Ealing NumberWorks’nWords
Chapter One
“Donald!” A voice bellowed down the corridor from behind.
“Yes professor?” Donald bowed in respect.
“It is time… time for the one ceremony!”
The professor seemed nervous. Did Donald actually have a chance?
“Come quick young boy,” the professor stuttered. “No time for your misbehaving.”
Donald suddenly felt what the professor felt. However the professor was always a bit ‘off’, never did have a straight mind.
Slowly Donald stumbled across the dusty pebbled pathway. His dark, hazelnut eyes met the small, but priceless, magical creature.
“Ready Donald?” asked the small creature in a surprisingly sturdy voice.
“What are you?” Donald edged to find out more.
“I am the last remaining Flyzoom in the magical kingdom, here for your safe journey today.” answered Flyzoom.
Donald had no more to say and no more questions – nothing. So instead he just let the Flyzoom launch up into the dark, gloomy nothingness.

Chapter Two
Donald couldn’t explain that journey – nothing could. Not words, not pictures… nothing.
“I hope I wasn’t too bumpy, I have a full stomach.” Flyzoom apologised.
Donald couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Flyzoom thought that he was bad transport!
“No, not at all. It’s fine, better than fine actually.” Donald was puzzled.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a flying silver rock appeared. It was a crystal rock. Surprisingly, carved into it was a message:-
“Donald, our identity is too private to reveal outside. Please continue through our precious island until you come across a cave. We will meet you there.”
Donald set the crystal rock down. Out of nowhere an immense gust of wind appeared and the rock disappeared. The professor flew past and made a sturdy landing five feet away (he made it look easy).
“Ah, I see you made it safely.” the professor said wisely.
“It was a spectacular ride!” Donald praised.
“Well, let’s get going.” encouraged the professor.

Chapter Three
Cautiously, Donald stumbled through the treacherous jungle. An aged, mouldy sign was hidden behind some emerald green foliage.
“Professor, a sign.” Donald was ready for anything now. Donald waited… “Professor?”
Donald felt a shiver of sacredness. Where was he? Attentively Donald crept towards the bushes, he scrutinised the area and found he was struggling to breathe at the sight. Lying before his very eyes was his professor, the life sucked out of him. Blood, thick ruby red blood, oozed out of the professor’s brain. Rage surged through Donald.
“Who did this?” he screamed up into the bland nothingness.
After grieving for a while and once he had controlled his rage, Donald chose to carry on. He remembered the sign. Could it be useful? Hopefully, Donald trekked on towards the sign. Donald stuttered aloud as if the professor was still here.
“The One, or maybe not? You have travelled far. I am sorry for your loss today; Mr Jack Professor was a wise man.”
How did he know that had happened? Suddenly a bright flash and then the words on the sign had changed!
“If you are the One then it is your duty to complete the task of defeating the evil holder of the deathly wand. Good luck!”
Donald yawned, his watch shrieked at him. 1:30a.m! Serenely, Donald drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Four
When Donald woke his surroundings were different, he was beside a dark towering cave. Standing beside him was a familiar face.
“Flyzoom?”
“Donald, you’re alive!” Flyzoom grinned widely. Donald didn’t understand so he chose to ignore him.
“I have given you guidance Donald, however only wizards are allowed through the One cave.”
“Really? Um.. oh.. ok!” Donald was worried.
Donald glanced through the cave; the crumbling opening was narrow.
“Goodbye Donald, good luck as well,” encouraged Flyzoom. “I hope you’re not the One.”
“I think it is time I knew what is so deadly about being the One!” questioned Donald.
“You’re right, it is time” Flyzoom spoke wisely.
“It was a gloomy night, the magical king had died and Prince Jack took to the throne. Of course he now possessed the deadly wand. The deadly wand had powers, powers you wouldn’t believe, however, the evil ones, such as Professor Tingletongue, …
(Flyzoom hissed at the name but carried on)
… could sense that Prince Jack wasn’t ready, they killed him and took the wand. Ever since then there have been mysterious killings and Professor Tingletongue stole the throne. He was a bad ruler, he enslaved the fellow people but they could not do anything. They were helpless against the mighty deathly wand. Flyzoom smiled.
“He died and now his son is on the throne and it is the One’s job to retrieve the deathly wand,” explained Flyzoom.
“Oh! I don’t want to be the One.” stuttered Donald.

Chapter Five

Meticulously, Donald searched for the inch wide gap that would lead him to his future. He scrutinized his surroundings and then his eyes met the gap.
“Thank you Flyzoom, for everything.”
Donald was grieving inside, could he make it alone?
“Never again shall we meet.” And then he was gone!
“Uh, ok; let’s get this over with,” muttered Donald. He cautiously crept through the broken cave.
“Oh, sorry I did not mean to startle you.” He spoke slowly as if to torture Donald’s mind.
Donald worked up the guts to speak.
“Well, am I the One?” he murmured.
“My boy, that will be determined,” replied the man. “Please place your hands on my future crystal ball.”
Donald did as so and immediately a fiery, burning sensation spread through his body. Pictures flooded through mid-air and made a screen of clear information.
The both stared at it, Donald was in a trance.
“Donald you are the One!”

Jennifer Allen age 11
Surbiton NumberWorks’nWords

The answer Phone Message

“I hate London!” said Claire under her breath. “I mean what’s to like? What’s not to hate? All it has to offer is some crummy tourist attractions. You see them once and you never want to see them again.”

Claire’s routine is the same everyday, wake up, go to school, come home and the high light, check the answer phone to see if she has won a competition. Then she goes to her room and when her dad comes home she listens to them argue with her mum and then eats and goes to bed. Everyday was the same except for one.

She was walking home one day thinking about how much the air smelled of smoke from cigarettes and all the cars. She came home and pressed play on the answer phone (as usual) heard a recorded conversation of her mum and dad. This argument was somehow different from the others. Instead of the normal arguments about who did what wrong, they were arguing over her. “I want her ove Christmas!” exclaimed mum. “But that’s unfair!” replied dad. This made her feel dead inside, like there was no reason to live. As if the whole thing was her fault. She ran upstairs and started to pack her bag. Another thing I should tell you is that her Dad has moved and her parents are on the edge of divorce. Something inside her head was telling her that it was all her fault! “If I go they will be happy.” She began to pack her bag. But her other conscience said, “Stop it’s not your fault!” She slowed down. Then she remembered the message and sped up again and decided to leave.

She left a note only saying that she was in the shower and not hungry and was going to bed. She snuck down stairs and out the door. Her plan was to get the train as far as possible to her Aunty’s in Kent and if she did not have enough time to do it in one to, then she would sleep in a travel lodge. There was only enough money for the train and a travel lodge. She was walking along a very busy street wondering which way the way to the train station was. She could nor remember if it was to the left or to the right. So she decided to ask someone. “Hello, hello, what is the quickest way to the station?” Claire asked. “Hello! Which is……will anyone help me?” she shouted.
“I will.” Said a voice. “Thanks!” said Claire. Claire thought this person was rather strange because he held his hand on her rucksack. She thought he was probably just being friendly. When he had told her she said “thanks” and walked off. As soon as she was in a place where she could stop, she checked her bag and found that her money had gone! Did the man steal he money? Or had she forgotten it. Without she could not catch a train let alone a travel lodge. What should she do?

Claire Oliver age 11
Surbiton NumberWorks’nWords

Aaron Whispers

Aaron whispers everywhere he goes,
Even when he shows
His compassion to his girlfriend,
At the classes end.

Later in between the book shelves,
Aaron and his friends whisper amongst themselves.
They’re thinking of a secret plan,
To collect as many things as they can…..

For their tree house where there’s no need to whisper,
They can jump, shout and dress in fur.
You must be wondering why they brought,
So many things, It’s to build a fort.

They did this because their tree house is too small,
But a fort is large and tall.
For them to play, run and hide,
As well to move things from side to side.

Now at a party you can see,
There’s him and her, you and me.
At Aaron’s fort the party takes place,
And each laughing at every face.

It is time for a little game,
Chinese whispers, the message is “shame.”
Aaron’s girlfriend Lillie’s turn,
To choose a message which is “furn”.

That’s Lillie’s best friend indeed,
And now it’s time to feed.
On some of mum’s yummy pies,
Packed with secrets and lies.

The noise pss pss pss,
Ssh ssh ssh pss pss pss.
But one whisper that made me look,
“I love you!” Aaron whispered and Lillie took.