William Dadds Age 6
Wimbledon NumberWorks’nWords

One day I went camping with my best friend Simon. We found a spot in a big forest. It was dark and scary.

That night we decided to go exploring. On the way back we found some coloured beans that shone so brightly.

We decided to plant them outside the tent.

In the morning a big surprise was outside our tent. It was a big green beanstalk.

We climbed up and saw a castle at the top. Inside there were sweets and gold.

Simon filled a bag up and I helped.

A giant chased us down the beanstalk but he was too big and went back up.

We were so rich.

Vivek Desai Age 10
Wimbledon NumberWorks’nWords

The wind blew hard. The windows creaked. All the animals in the nearby woods were alarmed. In a barn Arthur, a dormouse, woke up lethargically.
“Mum, what time is breakfast?” he asked. Arthur was forever asking questions.
“You can come down now,” replied Arthur’s mum Gwen.

Arthur had a family of five. He had two brothers called Felix and Dan. Felix was older than Arthur and Dan was younger. His dad’s name was Harold. His barn was one of three barns on the farm.

After breakfast, Arthur decided to visit his friend Owen in the next barn. He climbed along the rafters, which were damp from last night’s rain. When he went outside, the wind nearly blew him away. He made his way, slowly walking through the long wavy grass. When he reached Owen’s barn, he slipped under the door and into the barn.

Owen’s barn was twice the size of Arthur’s barn.
“Hello Owen,” he shouted.
There was no reply. Then he saw Owen’s mother.

“Where’s Owen?” asked Arthur. He noticed Owen’s mother was snivelling.

“H-H-H-He’s dead!” Owen’s mum finally finished.

Arthur gasped. “He got run over by a truck,” said Owen’s mother.

Arthur couldn’t believe it. He always knew Owen as a careful mouse. Arthur just thought, just maybe, that it wasn’t actually an accident. Maybe it was murder!

So then he decided to investigate. He asked Owen’s mother where he had been run over. She said it took place by the big oak tree.

Arthur went to have a look. On the floor there were pairs of footprints. One was ahead and one behind. That gave him a clue. Owen wasn’t on his own. As he walked further, he saw the first pair of footprints. He noticed the top of the footprint was deeper than the back. It looked as if the person was falling head first. Then Arthur knew exactly what happened. Owen was pushed onto the road when the truck was coming!

When he had finished he went back to Owen’s barn.

“Who else was with him at the time?” he asked Owen’s mother.
“Only his friend Tommy,” she replied.
So it was Owen’s friend Tommy who had pushed him under a truck. Arthur decided to keep the secret to himself. He will tell someone when he is old enough… probably when someone remembers Owen.

Join Arthur on his next mission when someone finds out about Owen, who Arthur doesn’t like.

Michele Gimsing  Aged 10
Wimbledon NumberWorks’nWords

As the door slammed shut the ginger cat opened his green sinister eyes. He got up and trotted to the kitchen to start his daily trouble.

BOOM! SMACK! CRASH!

“What are you doing n..”, shouted Bob, the goldfish.

SPLAT! CRACK! SPAM!

“Please stop, turn on the TV will you?”

Then out flew the owner’s prettiest China bowl filled with red tomato soup. Hit the remote. Bob looked down at what used to be turquoise was stained in tomato soup. But this was only 9am in the morning at 64 Sycamore Street …

Chapter 2

Now listening intently to the news, Bob’s shiny gold scales shimmered in the light as he swam around his fish bowl. On the other hand, Ginger walked out of the kitchen leisurely with chocolate around his mouth.

“There have been robberies on Oak Road and Chesnut Street,” the news reporter reported.

“Oh no!” cried Bob.

“What?” enquired Ginger.

“It’s that those two streets, the man had last said, are the streets before us. We’re next!” shrieked Bob.

“Quick. Lock the doors. Shut the windows, block the fireplace!”

“Why the fireplace?” asked Ginger.

“Why do you have to be so stupid?” snapped Bob frustrated.

But Ginger honestly didn’t know.

Chapter 3

In that fireplace there was a secret chamber which had a treasure. This treasure had been through Sophie’s, the owner’s, family for hundreds of years. This was a gold plated, jewel encrusted, diamond studded teacup. As Ginger sat down wheezing after his door locking, window shutting, fireplace blocking exercise, he watched the TV. It was only one o’clock when they heard suspicious voices outside…

Chapter 4

Bob suddenly swam to the bottom of his fishbowl and Ginger hid under the sofa. Two men came in, whispering in their loud, harsh voices. Burt Ginger gave it away. As there was nothing to take, they were heading out. Ginger noticed the men’s laces and, when Ginger saw the laces, he had an uncontrollable desire to nibble them. He leaped out from under the sofa and attacked the short man’s laces.

“We’ll take ’im,” said the tall man.

The short man bent over and stuffed Ginger in the sack, carelessly. Bob got worried. He would be all alone. And what would Sophie say? There was only one thing for it – the cat whistle.

Chapter 5

The cat whistle was so powerful that cats from one mile away could hear it. As he whistled the silky tune, many cats appeared.

“Follow that van!” Bob ordered. “and get that cat out.”

All fifty cats jumped on the van and attempted to open it. After two unsuccessful tries, three quarters of the cats had fallen off. It was up to them.

They tugged and pulled at the handle. CLICK. It opened. Ginger and several other cats tumbled onto the sidewalk. They pushed him through the window. He sat down on the sofa.

“Funny thing really, as all those cats don’t even know me. And yet they saved me.”

Bob smiled, “Some people care unexpectedly for others.” And at that moment Sophie sauntered in.

“Hello,” She cheered.

Bob was still smiling. Ginger gave a tired nod. Then he thought: I got kidnapped by men with laces. I was rescued by cats I didn’t even know.

And all in time for dinner.