An Encounter with Wolves

This was the day my whole life took a turn and it would never be the same although I did not know it yet. It was a cold, misty day and I was walking along the damp marshes. I brusquely stopped. Was that what it sounded like? A pack of wolves howling through the marshes. I felt uneasy as my brow started to sweat. I turned around as the howling grew louder. It was echoing from all four sides, growing closer and trapping me inside.

I started to run to come face to face with a snarling wolf. Jet black with a white star across his forehead. Green eyes dazzling like emeralds stared right into my eyes sending shivers down my spine. I turned around. This time to encounter a grey wolve with eyes as black as death itself. Teeth as white as pearls and as sharp as daggers were snarling and snapping at me, inching closer and closer second by second.

This can’t have been happening. Not to me. I started to run, like the wind, as fast as I had never ran before. The wolves started to chase me as others joined in. I screamed. I started to slow down as the wolves began to gain speed. I was losing and the wolves were winning.

Why Did I ……..?

Why did I have to suffer this ill-fated curse? Why did I have to be stuck in prison? Why did I have to be the one? It all started when my best friend and I dug out a ring in my backyard. It was gleaming gold with a red ruby glistening on top. We were pretty awestruck but who knew? Turns out it was stolen property and some bandits had thought my backyard to be an amazing hiding place. It was getting late for school so I stuffed the ring in the only place I could think of. My pocket. Pretty dumb right? Anyways, off we went. In school the teacher was absent and the class was a chaos. Students screamed while others sniggered. As I entered the class I tripped over a carelessly abandoned book and the ring flew out of my pocket and behold. I hastily stuffed the ring in my pocket but the damage was done. My classmates’ eyes grew as large as saucers. The thug of the class, Falkin called the police from a phone he had snuck in school. My friend and I were done for as we were sent to the police station for questioning. The story was unfolded and I must admit, it sounded pretty suspicious. So guess what happened? I wept, I fought but still I was put in prison while my friend was let off scot free. After all the ring was found on my property. Now I sit in a damp cell, thoughts whirling in my head. The walls are sprinkled with mildew and a reeking odour dominates the air. I starve to death in this place since they just serve burnt toast and spoilt milk. The days are filled in endless boredom and despair. A day crawls by so slowly that each day seems like a year. Finally my heart is cleared as I have told someone my story but I still have one last question. Why did I have to find the ring in my backyard? Why did I have to be questioned by the police? Why did I have to be the one?

The Spider

I am a creepy, crawly creature,

And the image of your nightmares.

There are many stories about me,

But all portray me as a villain and a traitor.

What have I done to deserve this mistrust,

All those glares and killing stares.

Why do you scream when you see me,

And take out a broom to hit me.

All that poison leering from corners,

Making my heart go pitter-pat. 

All I do is spin my web,

Fine, black thread of silk.

Catching food for me and my little ones.

My dangling, inky legs take me scuttling,

On a leg tingling adventure.

I’ll admit it, I do bite and scare,

 But only if someone gets in the way,

 And tries to harm my children.

After all, I am your foe- the spider.

I just wish you would accept me for who I am,

And treat me the way I want to be treated.

Because I am just as scared of you,

As you are of me.

The Relentless Truth

She looked in the mirror

Expecting to see a strong face full of fury and pride,

Eyes determined and powerful.

Instead she saw the truth, the relentless truth.

Her face was tear-stained, looking lost and vulnerable,

The blue eyes that normally flashed with fury looked scared and weak,

Like they held all the pain in the world.

Anger simmered inside her and then boiled to a rage.

Impulsivity took over and her fist and knuckles made contact with the mirror,

And suddenly shards and slivers of gleaming diamond flew in the air

Scattered all across the polished tiles.

Her hand was a mosaic of bleeding lines and shapes.

As screams erupted like lava and tear rolled down her cheeks like marbles,

Her body shook and she realised.

She was so wrapped up in her life, that was a tangle of lies

That she failed to realise the truth.

The relentless truth.

THE END!

The Mysterious Man in the Forest

My mouth fell open in surprise. I looked at the beautiful waterfall spilling from between the rocks. This was surely one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. I snapped a couple of shots with my camera. Let me tell you how it all began. Every year our school had a scavenger hunt. They gave us a clue and left the rest to us. The clue led us to a flag which held another clue which led us to another flag and on and on. There were five flags to collect and on the sixth stop there was an operator which when you pressed the school sent a helicopter to pick you up. The winner would get a ticket for his/her whole family to some exotic place. Any way so far, I had three flags in a day. Not bad huh? The beauty of the place was breathtaking. I drifted into a restless sleep after a day of hard work. 

As my eyelids fluttered open the sun was rising. I jumped up, ran a comb through my tangled hair, took out a biscuit pack from my backpack and set off. Munching on the way I heard a twig crackling behind me. I whipped around to see nothing. Thinking of it a joke by one of my classmates I set off again. Wading through wet mud a while later, I heard a twig crackling again. “It’s not funny!” I retorted angrily and I turned around to receive a shock. There stood a footstep, a giant footstep as big as both my feet. “Come out,” I pleaded as a man came into my sight. He was shivering with the cold. I wrapped him with my coat and asked him who he was. “Many years ago,” he began, “I lived in a little cottage at the corner of the forest with my wife and little girl. My wife, Ophelia got sick with typhoid so in hope for my girl not to catch it I sent her to a boarding school. A year later my wife passed away and so filled with grief I went to retrieve my girl to find out she had also gone because of pneumonia. Heartbroken and panic stricken I sold the cottage as it reminded me of Ophelia too much. I live in the forest wandering around.” My eyes glazed with tears as I got to my feet. “Come, on! What are you waiting for?” I exclaimed. “You’re coming with me.” We found the last two flags and finally the operator. Before pressing it I snapped a few more shots of the beautiful scenery. I took a deep breath and pressed the button. I’m sure we had won. A helicopter came to pick us up and took us to the school. There we sat with the head mistress and talked this over a hot lunch. The head mistress convinced Mr. Aldous to stay here and not go back to the forest. 

I won the scavenger hunt and my family, Mr. Aldous and I had a lovely holiday in France. Now Mr. Aldous is a suitable lawyer who works for one of the top companies in the world. It was his dream to help innocent prisoners kept in captivity. He went back to school and studied law. Now he hopes as he frees innocent souls, his soul be freed from grief. 

Saving the World

He heard the key turn in the lock and realised he was trapped. Oh no! Why had he been so foolish, so gullible. Mr. Samuel, a teacher in school had been seen making a very suspicious phone call. His sharp, brown eyes were full of malice and his voice was so sharp that it would slice bread. Alan caught fragments of his conversation. “Yes, I’ll bring the loot shortly……….This is going to be our biggest crime.” Alan boldly walked in and said, “Mr. Samuel what are you doing?” Mr. Samuel’s normally calm complexion looked flustered. “Aaaaah you see….anyways come with me I have a gift for you.” Alan trusted this man less than strangers after what he had heard but he still followed him. Alan was led to an isolated cottage at the top of Medley Hill. The fresh air whipped around them as sweet honeysuckle could be smelt in the air. As they went inside the cottage Alan felt a cold clammy hand on his shoulder. He whipped around to see a fat and pompous man with a long-hooked nose. Mr. Samuel ran his hand through his handsome ash brown hair and said, “Meet my friend ‘Harlow’ ‘Rick Harlow’”. Rick smirked while combing his muddy brown hair. Mr. Samuel beckoned Alan to follow him. Alan was led to a dark storeroom and as he went inside, he heard a click and two laughs: one crafty and one thick. That’s where Alan is now, trapped. 

The next day dawned bright and sunny. In school I was waiting for Alan to turn up. This was unlike him. Alan was never late or absent. This was very weird, I had to investigate. The lessons passed by in a flurry and soon it was recess. I went to the restroom and retied my sleek black hair. I went outside and started thinking, my shrewd, emerald eyes filled with thought. Suddenly I saw Mr. Samuel our geography teacher slipping out of the huge iron gates. I was puzzled at his strange behavior since teachers are strictly prohibited from leaving the school grounds in recess. There was no time to think this out carefully so in my decisive manner I followed him. He walked for quite a long time until he reached Medley Hill. Mr. Samuel went to the cottage at the top of the hill. I waited until the coast was clear, then went inside. I saw suspiciously looking dark cellar. It was locked but fortunately the key was in the lock. I cautiously opened the lock and peered inside. To my great horror Alan was lying in a crumpled heap on the hard-stone floor. “Alan!” I whispered, “What are you doing here?”  Alan jumped up to his feet and urgently whispered, “Quick there’s no time to lose. Let’s go.” He silently tiptoed out of the room when suddenly we heard a loud and heavy footstep. Alan glanced at me desperately as suddenly a pompous man with large, baggy clothes came around the corner. “Aaaaah……. I see Alan’s being rescued by Miss Diddum’s,” he said his voice glazed with honey. “Well that’s not happening,” he said, his voice changing completely. He pushed me inside the storeroom along with Alan and I heard a click. Alan groaned as a light bulb suddenly went on in my head. I took a piece of wire out of my pocket and put it in the keyhole and twisted. I heard a click as the door unlocked. I ran out signaling Alan to follow me. We ran out of the cottage as silently as possible. As we started to climb down the hill Alan shouted. Suddenly I saw why. Mr. Samuel and Rick have discovered our escape and are running towards us. Unexpectedly Mr. Samuel brandishes a revolver as fear overwhelms me. We’re trapped. There’s death either way. By falling of the hill or by being shot. As Mr. Samuel pulls the trigger, I pull his hand and the gun plummets downwards until it is out of sight. “You dratted girl, what was that for?” he hisses with clenched teeth. I start climbing downwards and Alan follows suit. This buys us some time but very little. The two criminals can see that it’s no use following us now, they’d never catch us. We go as fast as possible until we reach the ground and succeed. 

We  rush to the agency where I elaborate the whole story to my boss, Officer Aaron Burnett. His big hazel eyes fill with serious thought as he tries to work this out methodically. Suddenly he leaps to action. He jams a cap on his wispy auburn hair and calls a masquerade of his faithful men. They all set off as Alan and I warn them to be careful. Waiting for them to come back, I bite my lip thinking about the mission. After a few hours the men and Officer Aaron come back with Rick and Samuel. Due to Officer Aaron’s alert mind they were caught but with much difficulty. I later found out that Samuel Bradley and Rick Harlow are one of the most wanted criminals. They kidnapped Alan because he smelt a rat in Mr. Samuel’s genuineness of being a geography teacher. Turns out I helped in saving the world from two wanted criminals. Woohoo!! 

2020

All around the world people had such big hopes for 2020. The two 20’s, 20 squared and what not. Did they ever imagine that this how 2020 would turn out to be. Bringing the gift coronavirus and some free accessories, namely: masks and sanitisers. Now people just can’t wait for it to be over. Everyone realises how they had taken their lives for granted. People wish for just one more day they could savour and enjoy without Covid-19 niggling their consciences. How people were sick of going to schools, universities and offices, etc. Now they are dying to go to these places and return to their normal lifestyle. Sure, 2019 might have not been the best year but…… Anyways, all I want to say is make the most of your time! Try out things you have always wanted to but have never had the time to. Do things you were always meaning to get around to doing. Make the most of your time and NEVER TAKE YOUR LIFE FOR GRANTED.😀

Believe in Yourself

Believe in youself and in your dream,

Though impossible things may seem.

Believe in youself and in your plan,

Always say that I can.

Believe in youself and every word you say,

Be trusting, and let faith lead the way.

Believe in yourself and the power within,

And always think that you will win.

The Result of Peer Pressure

All of us must’ve experienced peer pressure at least once in our lifetime. Peer pressure is the persuasion (often negative) by a group of friends towards an individual to do something which they otherwise wouldn’t have done. It may be in various forms; inducing someone to dress in a certain way, being forced to vandalise property, etc. are examples of how peer pressure works. 

“Hurry up, Armeen!” Alisha whispered as she beckoned her uneasy friend into the school. Armeen explained to Alisha that she was extremely uncomfortable doing this. Currently, the pair were in the midst of executing one of Alisha’s roguish plans. Alisha bravely advanced into the school and rattled at the locked doors. She whispered to Armeen to try the back door; it was opened. Armeen had no choice but to follow, as Alisha was her best friend and she didn’t want to potentially lose her. Her anxiety increased by the second. Her heart began to sink as she walked into the dark corridor. Bottles of spray paint squeaked loudly as Alisha pulled them out of her bag. Armeen stood there guarding Alisha. She felt horrible helping with such a plan, she consoled herself that it was not her idea in the first place and doing this for a friend was fine. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the headmistress come up behind her, Ms. Lockwood cleared her throat, the two girls stood frozen, dead silent. Ms. Lockwood had caught them vandalizing school after hours red-handed. There was nothing they could do, “My office, now” said Ms. Lockwood. Both of them were suspended from school for a fortnight and Armeen never spoke up to the headmistress or her parents, but she did learn something.

 Armeen learned that if someone persuaded her to change her attitude, values and morals, she would exit the situation no matter what it jeopardizes.

Friendship

Friendship is the most precious and beautiful gift one can give someone. As time passes by, lots of people will walk past, but only some stay with you forever, and those friendships will stick by one’s side through thick and thin. Lucky are those people, that have friends that can be trusted and wish to stay forever. Friends are people you can laugh with and be foolish with. A true friend is a person you can always count on when you face challenges and serious problems. He or she always offers a shoulder to cry on in case something wrong happens. Your friend always listens to your problems, gives you good advice, and never talks behind your back. A true friend is never envious of your accomplishments and achievements. This person respects you and keeps all your secrets. You can always tell your friend your flaws and be sure that your revelations are safe. A good friend is always loyal to you and never lets you down. Being trustworthy is a very important factor in any friendship. A true friendship is a reward for all the good we do in our life. A true friend is there for you in the times of need and he or she makes you smile when you forgot how to. A good friendship is very difficult to come across and that is why we should appreciate it whole-heartedly. We just need friends to live happily. Lasting friendship is a blessing for everybody. We don’t have to pretend to be someone else when we spend time with our friends. They give us total freedom to be who we really are. We should be grateful to people who make us happy. A true friend is one of the most precious possessions that one can have in his or her life.