Eleanor Updale http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/eleanor-updale

13/11/2019

Georgie was used to her mother’s fads. For days on end she would be running round the park, or eating foods with unpronounceable names, or making ‘useful’ things from old cardboard.
Soon, it was as if the wild enthusiasm had never existed. The only evidence was crammed into the cupboard under the stairs. An exercise bike was hidden under half-sewn curtains. On top lay a single wellington boot, decorated with pictures cut from a magazine.
So it was no surprise when Georgie’s mother got hooked a podcast about tidying up. The house rang with the recorded voice of a smug woman nagging everyone to chuck out anything that wasn’t really needed, and soon the garden was littered with stuff destined for the charity shop or the dump.
Georgie was given the job of sorting through the books. She had a lovely time, rediscovering old favourites, and hiding them to make sure they wouldn’t get thrown away. Then, down the back of the bookshelf, she came across an unfamiliar volume. It was pretty tatty, but its leather binding must once have been smart. There was no title on the outside. She opened it up. The pages were filled with tiny handwriting. It must have been somebody’s diary. She flicked through. The last few pages were blank. Then she noticed the heading on the final entry: 23rd March. It didn’t say which year, but it was no wonder that the date caught Georgie’s eye - 23rd March was her birthday. That was why she started reading at end of the book, and the last few words changed everything, forever. They said, “...

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J Dennis

14/11/2019 09:28:15

“Do not read these words out loud or you will be taken back to the start!” The words written underneath seemed like they were in another language.

I knew I shouldn’t read them out, but there was an overwhelming urge taking over me. I couldn’t stop from saying them:

“Suscipe me ad novum monstrum ludum ad initium!”

I was blinded by a flash of bright light and when I opened my eyes I couldn’t believe it! New Griffin School. I felt different and when I looked at my clothes I was dressed that an awful, scratchy, purple school uniform I remember from all those years ago. I opened my mouth in shock and felt something press into my lips – braces!

It was my worst nightmare. I had been sent back to my first day of school!

I remember that I had gotten a scholarship and now I could go to school. When I entered the shimmering gates and walked up to the wooden doors I saw a wave of people heading to their classes. Suddenly someone ran into me. I fell like a rock out of the sky and hit the ground.

“Sorry but I’m going to be late for so I need to go,” said a girl with golden brown hair and bluebell eyes.

She got up and started to run to class and I started to talk: “Wait, what’s your name and why did you run into me?”

She responded with: “I’m Emily and I’m late.”

Emily…I knew that name. Before I could say anything she left.

I remembered that all those years ago my first ever lesson had been History so I headed in that direction. I strolled in and saw the only empty seat was next to…her!

I sat down next to the girl who looked like her clothes cost £1000.

“Hi, I’m Lila.” I said, but I knew how she would respond.

“I don’t care who you are, just keep quiet.” She sneered.

I spent the rest of the class silent. I was so confused. What was happening to me? Why was I here again? I had to figure this out! After class I ran to find Emily. We had eventually become best friends so I knew that I could trust her. She was sat next to a griffin statue with emerald eyes.

“Hey, it’s you,” She exclaimed.

We started talking and I told her about the rude girl.

She said “That’s Jade. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. The people she bullies are like lambs at a slaughter, clueless and helpless.”

I wasn’t sure if I should tell her what had happened to me but wanted to confide in someone…

By Amy – West Kirby School

Laura Jane Ferguson

14/11/2019 10:26:16

That’s when I snapped out of these thoughts as
quickly as I entered them. I saw the scarlet ribbons
remember so clearly.
“Mum let go I don’t want these ribbons!”
I started to panic. This couldn’t be happening. I ran
to the girls’ toilets to check. I looked in the mirror.
I recognised the green eyes and red hair. I was my
dead friend Lila.
I still remember that day. Almost in slow motion.
Lila was unaware of her fate in the shape of a bus. I
ran towards her as fast as I could, the scarlet
ribbons now half falling of . The grey socks I hated
were rolling down now
“LILA! MOVE!”
Lila move ! I ran across the road not caring what
would happen I made it I shouted “ Georgie!” The
girl turned around.
A hurricane of light engulfed me. I was back home
reading the diary. Now the words are in English…

By Cecilia, Eva, Vicky, Ruby, Jess and Alisha

Aaryan A and Michael G

14/11/2019 11:18:37

Salty tears rolled down my cheeks; stinging my eyes like a viper’s venom. I let them run, I didn’t care, down onto the diary, still in my hands. Suddenly, there was another uncontrollable flash of blindingly, bright light and my whole shaking body convulsed with utter shock.
I regained my consciousness in completely unfamiliar surroundings. Solemnly, I was looking up at a five year old news article. The headline ran: “HIT AND RUN BUS CAUSES DEATH OF A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL.” That must have been my deceased friend Lila. Slowly, I took in the surroundings.
I was in a small, vivid-pink room that was rather hot. Posters peppered the otherwise blank wall. One direction, my little pony; these were Lila’s favourite things. The neatly painted door was littered with Lila’s name. That’s when I realised with growing unease that something was wrong. My attention snapped back to the newspaper, and I continued to read. Alarmingly, I realised that the account of the death was terribly wrong; they thought that I had died. Myself not Lila. My bitter tears must have totally ruined the diary! I was however still holding it.
The past had been distorted, and I needed to set it right…

Parthiv and Aaryan, Reading School

14/11/2019 12:40:13

I felt sick, as if my entire life and identity was fading away. If this illusion – if it is one – ends and I’m back in the future (or present?) I’m dead! I stared in the mirror into my blood-red eyes – sweat dripped down my face. What am I going to do? My present, future and past is like nothingness in a pitch-black, empty void…
I pinch myself to snap out of this dream. I stare at the surroundings - not an inch has changed. The deafening silence continued. The words swirling in my mind seemed so loud, so disturbing; I had to do something. So I did the only thing I could, I changed the name in the book.
A myriad of swirling colours invaded my sight. The perplexing events in the last 5 minutes
paralyzed me. I waited and waited until soon the dust of the ancient bookshelf coated me. I coughed before realising that everything felt the same as before. Mother’s podcast was still as annoying as it ever was. I stepped out of the mundane, glum house., only to see Lila’s parents weeping and mourning in Lila’s demise, begging god to return their daughter.
Guilt flooded me like the River Nile in full tide. That feeling I had just a couple of minutes ago returned to me. I couldn’t get that ghastly dread and regret out of my head. I took a decision that would change my life forever… Parthiv and Aaryan, Reading School

Dan B, Josie W, Isla P, Sam D Woolmer Hill School

14/11/2019 13:30:33

I frantically ran around, trying to think of an idea. In my panic I bumped into my friend Gordon. He was in his loose fitting PE kit, scruffy ginger hair falling over his forehead. He stared at me in confusion before doubling over in a light-hearted giggle. “You were always so clumsy” he smiled.
“Sorry” I said with an edge, glaring at the mud on his cheek. “It appears I still hate you”. He laughed again, knowing I could never actually hate him.
“I am just running to the library, would you like to join me?” Gordon asked, smiling his silly but loveable smile.
“Yeah, I guess, I need to sort out some things.” I answered. I followed him panting as I went, I had never been a sporty person, but I just managed to keep up.
The moment we entered the library, Gordon rushed straight to the biology section, as I rolled my eyes at his taste in books, then I spotted something different. I had a great preference for fiction, so headed off over there. Then, in a dusty old corner where all of the classics that nobody under the age of sixty has ever read, I spotted a book, the book, the book that could save Lila’s life: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.
I opened up the tatty, tear flooded diary, looked to the last page, this could send me back to save Lila, I could travel back in time, and stop the bus from crushing Lila.
I spoke the cryptic words: “Suscipe me ad novum monstrum ludum ad initium!”

Laura Jane Ferguson

14/11/2019 15:31:48

Yet again, the blinding light shone around me, but I have gotten used to it by now. There I was again, New Giffin School. But this time, there were no braces in my mouth. I was Georgie again! I heard running footsteps of someone behind me and instinctively moved out of the way. A golden brown blur flew past, narrowingly missing me; “Sorry, I’m late!” the blur yelled, disappearing into the sea of purple. Where was I meant to be? Oh right, History!

I was back in the History room and saw only one seat next to... Jade, I think? Yes, Jade. She wasn’t very nice last time and I think I heard her say something like “Here we go again”. Rude. I suddenly found myself next to her.

“Hi, I’m -”

“I don’t care-” Jade seemed to notice something about me. “What the…” She looked so shocked…

Everything faded. I was outside and Lila was on the road. The road… I ran, with all my strength, to her.

“No, No, NO”

Without thinking I jumped in front of her, just as the bus arrived, welcoming death with open arms. I heard a loud thud and everything went black.

As I woke up, I saw a girl’s face with brown eyes. Jade. I was too weak to sit up, as she spoke.

“You shouldn’t have done that. You can’t change the past. Trust me I’ve tried and now I am stuck here”

I tried to speak, but Jade was gone and the nurse walked in.

Tallulah, Abbey, Poppy, Rowan

Wirral Grammar School For Girls

Christina Nguyen

15/11/2019 16:32:52

As the nurse walked in, she suddenly changed, her personality become rude and overwhelming, she became Jade. “Why is this happening to me.” She walked up to me, but I was not paying any attention. I keep wondering why everything around me is changing. Everything was glitching, blemishing, and disappearing. Everything went black.
As everything went black, I started to have a dream, more like a nightmare, and Lila was in it. It goes back to the bus incident. The horror of seeing her hit by a bus, made me feel the distinct pain. I thought I could forget about it.
When I woke up, I was being hit by the bus. I was Lila, and I wasn’t asleep.
Suddenly, as I felt the pain, the agony kicked in. My feelings came in. My fear came on. As all these feelings swallowed me at once, I suddenly felt like Lila.
Though as the bus took over me, I fell back asleep. The next thing I know I am back at home looking at my diary. The tiny words soaking into my concience, felt like needles digging into my skin. As I soaked up all this information, I was back in the future.
I was writing the book thinking about all the events that have happened to me. As I see myself writing these words I feel a rumble.
I’m back in the present. “Why is this happening to me.”

Mitchell S. and Paris S. Robert E. Lee Junior High School

Eleanor Updale http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/eleanor-updale

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