Asleep

1
Asleep By Martin Muckle
2
I want you all on your best behaviour, ok?
Miss Blythe asked us all. We all nodded and
answered Yes Miss All nine of us were visiting
the allotments on a school trip, so we could do a
creative writing project on what we seen. Going
on the trip was Rebecca, Rosi, Grant, Natalie,
Steven, Katie, Hannah, Mrs Blythe and me, Martin.
We were all excited to go on a school trip, as
most of us hadnt been on a school trip since
year 6. The bus screeched to a halt. The sound
of escaping steam told us that the doors were
open. We unbuckled our seatbelts and filled out
of the vehicle, onto the gravel ground. With each
step, the gravel Crunched under our feet. The
high iron gates at the entrance to the allotments
caught my gaze. Mrs Blythe led us into the
allotments. We were all split into groups of four
I, Grant, Rosi and Rebecca were put into a group.
The Allotments were split into two halves the
nicer half, and the not so nice half. The first
place we went was the not so nice half. In
reality, the not so nice side was basically a
rubbish dump. You werent allowed to dump things
there, but when one person does it, everyone
follows. I was looking at a discarded
television from the eighties, when all of a
sudden a mouse like head with two enormous eyes,
one malachite green and one sapphire blue
appeared inside the broken T.V, which had no
screen. Its lips where fat and pink and it had
ears protruding from its head, like twigs poking
from the sides of a branch. I gasped in shock and
watched as it clicked its fingers and with a
cracking sound, a whole opened under its feet and
it dropped down. Had I imagined it? I ran back
to tell the rest of my group about the weird
creature I had found. I grabbed them all and
pulled them with me. I stopped behind a bush and
whispered Look behind that bush, theres a old
T.V with a hole in the middle. Look down and tell
me what you see. They looked at me with a
puzzled expression and disappeared into the bush.
3
After a couple of second, there were Wows and
Amazing coming from behind the bush. I pushed
the bushes bristles aside and met my friends.
They all had their heads down the hole, watching
something. I copied them and stuck my head down
the hole to see what they were looking at. It was
AMAZING! There were hundreds of strange creatures
asleep, all lying on beds of straw. The strange
creature I had met before was asleep in the
middle of the room, lying on a lavishly decorated
bed. A whole new world was living under these
allotments, asleep. Every so often, Me, Rosi,
Grant and Rebecca sneak into the allotments and
secretly watch the weird creatures, sleeping in a
world of their own. We kept the hole a secret,
not telling anyone about the secret world that
lies peacefully beneath the allotments.
4
Murder on the Committee By Rebecca Lloyd
5
Sarah sighed and shook her head. The allotments
would need tons of work doing to them before the
Best Allotment Day tomorrow she thought.
Suddenly a startled cry threw her out of her
pondering... Lets go back a day. Sarah and
other people are tidying up the pathways in the
allotments, to get them ready for the fair in the
nearby field. A prize was to be awarded to the
best allotment at the end of the fair. Oh my
God! What is that?! Sarahs companion Melanie
gasped. Sarah hurried between fetid pools of
stinking water, piles of decomposing rubbish, and
blackened wood to where her friends were moving a
large yellow sofa from its place of pride on top
of a mountain of rubbish. What have you found
Melanie? More rats? Sarah shuddered as the
recollection of squeaking, filthy rodents loomed
in her mind. She peered at where a shaken Melanie
was wordlessly pointing. A black bin liner. A
black body shaped bin liner. Oh my Sarahs
voice left her as the full comprehension of what
she was seeing hit her like a speeding bus. The
heavy rain made the body shape stand out in sharp
relief. She looked away while she attempted to
recover her voice. Right, Ill call the
police, you need to sit down, you look terrible.
She stuttered. Melanie nodded her head rigidly,
and sat on a large rock covered with cigarette
burns and ash. Sarah grabbed her mobile phone out
of the pocket of the blue jacket she had left on
a small mound of clean grass, and pressed 9
three times. Hello, what service do you
require? A cool female voice asked calmly. I
need the police. Sarah replied, scarcely
believing this was happening. Fifteen minutes
later two police cars pulled up in the car park
outside the rusting fence, followed by a black
Ford Mondeo, a detectives car. Six police
officers, two female and four males leapt out of
the police cars, closely followed by two
detectives and a Pathologist. Sarah trembled. It
was like something out of a soap opera, things
like this didnt happen to normal, everyday
people like her and Melanie!
6
Where is the body? a police officer, asked
quickly, not wasting any time with introductions.
She pointed to the rotting pile behind her, and
told him it was in a black bin liner. A female
officer made her way over to her and Melanie,
armed with a bullet- proof vest, and a flask of
tea. Do you want to go and sit in the car? You
must be shaken after finding that. She smiled.
Melanie and Sarah nodded blankly and walked
slowly towards the car park where the lights from
the police cars could be seen clearly over the
tops of the withered trees. The next day, Sarah
woke up smiling at her absurd dream. Then she
looked around, and realised it was true. Why else
would Melanie be asleep on her sofa? The police
had suggested they should go home after an hour
of gruelling questioning by both of the
detectives. Sarah stumbled to the kitchen to
make herself a cup of coffee, and groaned out
loud when she realised that the award would
obviously have to be cancelled. She quickly
walked to the phone, and called the fellow
members of the Fair Committee, dreading having to
explain what had happened (again). Hey Dan,
you know how we volunteered to clean up
yesterday? Hello Susan, remember how we went
to tidy the allotments yesterday? Hi Joe
The list went on and on. By the end of her
calls, Sarah had been through three cups of
coffee, and it wasnt even nine o clock! She had
also discovered the disappearance of Keira, one
of her fellow committee members. Her head swam as
memories of the day before swam unbidden to the
front of her conscious. The detective asking if
she knew anyone who wore black cotton gloves. The
pathologist finding a bloodstained, high heeled
boot in a pool of water. The police woman smiling
sympathetically. Sarah moaned as she fell to the
floor in a faint. Later that day, Sarah and
Melanie decided to go to the fair. The award had
been cancelled, but the fair was still going
full steam ahead. They drove to the field in
Sarahs blue Peugeot 207, but as soon as they had
trudged across the muddy sludge of grass and
soil, several police men stepped out to meet
them. Melanie Greenway, you are arrested for-
Melanie gasped and, sidestepping a burly officer
to her right, sprinted back towards the car park.
The police men seemed to be expecting this
however, as three more officers leapt out from
the hedges beside the lichen- covered gates. They
tackled her, and soon had her in handcuffs.
7
As she was led back to the waiting party of
police officers, the composed detectives, and an
astonished Sarah, Melanies face became grim and
unmoving. The detective continued his speech as
if nothing had happened. Melanie Greenway, you
are arrested for the murder of Keira Stillan and
Thomas Ire. You have the right to remain silent,
but anything you do say may be used as evidence
in a court of law. Do you understand? Melanie
nodded silently, her face set and emotionless.
There was no remorse on her face, in her eyes. A
cold killer. Why did she kill them? I dont
understand, they were both great people, good
friends Sarah murmured. The detective turned to
her. Melanie was planning on killing all of
the Fair Committee. She thought it was unfair
that all the richest families were the ones who
got to organise everything, while less fortunate
families were left out. The man explained
quietly, his expression serious. She forced
Thomas Ire to drink a bottle of the weed killer
we found on the ground, half buried in a pool. He
died from the poisons soon after as he was held
down by Melanie. She then killed Keira Stillan by
drowning her in a pool of the mouldy water we saw
not two feet away from where you found
Thomas. So the glove was Melanies? I remember
now, she asked to lend mine today, I didnt think
anything of that at the time! And she complained
that she needed new shoes after losing her
favourite boots! Sarah exclaimed. If she
hadnt gone to the allotments to tidy up, Melanie
might not have been caught. Sarah shuddered as
she realised that if she hadnt volunteered to
clean up, she could be dead, another victim of
Melanies anger. It just shows, she thought, what
you can find in an allotment!
8
Rubbish By Grant Wilkinson
9
Grass grows all around, Moss and mud, covers the
ground. Torn off branches, troublesome
weeds, Older people plant pumpkin seeds. Blocks
of tarmac, sodden boxes, Holes in the fences,
let in all the foxes. Mountains of rubbish, and
patches of green, Everywhere you go, it isnt
that clean. Red plastic tape blocks our
escape, Chickens strut around wearing feathery
capes. They peck at our hands, For seeds, that is
their demand. Sand and straw, Send chickens into
uproar. They pose and they pout, Thats what
chickens are all about. Grass grows all
around, And still, moss and mud cover the ground.
10
Stranger at Night By Rosi Elliott
11
It happened when I was walking through the
allotments, one night, as I do most nights. Its
easy to sneak out the house these days. Ever
since Mum died, Dad drinks himself into a stupor
each night. I dont even have to shut the door
quietly. Even if he did see me leave, I doubt
hed care. His vegetable garden in the allotments
is all he cares about these days. I guess thats
why I come. I dont even do anything when I come
at night. I just stand staring at his carefully
planted potatoes and onions and other things. And
then I go home. That night was different. I had
just vaulted over the locked gates when I heard
it. A loud, wailing sound that was terrible to
listen to. It was filled with pain and sorrow,
love and hate and was the sound of something that
had been ripped away from someone. Something that
would never come back. I froze with fear and
almost without knowing it, I sank into a crouch.
As silent as a breath of wind, I crept towards
the sound. It seemed to take forever, even though
I knew the allotments werent big and you could
cross it in a few minutes. I crept until my legs
were aching from being in the same position and
just when my legs felt as if they were going to
drop off, I saw her. At least I thought it was a
her. She had her back to me but I could see the
dark hair that cascaded down her back. It looked
dripping wet. She was wearing a pale dress that
looked like a cobweb clinging to her and again it
looked like it had just been pulled from a lake.
The wails were getting louder and louder. I
wondered vaguely how no one else heard her but I
couldnt find any other explanation apart from
the one that I was going mad. Then I hit upon a
conclusion she was a ghost and only I could see
and hear her! That meant if she was a ghost, she
couldnt touch me. Feeling protected by this
decision I stood up and proceeded cautiously
towards her. Suddenly she swung round and
swooped upon me, clamping my wrist in a vicelike
grip. There goes my ghost theory I thought numbly
before plain, raw terror took over. What do you
want? I whispered in a hoarse voice. I wasnt
being quiet deliberately in the state I was in I
was lucky I could utter a single sound at all.
12
Her eyes were shards of ice piercing into me more
strongly than any knife could and holding me
still more complete than any hold would. What do
you want? I repeated. She opened her mouth
revealing pearl like teeth. You seeked me out,
did you not? Yes butwhy were you crying? She
stared at me blankly. You were cryingwhy? I
watched him die and I didnt step in to stop it!
She screeched without warning. I tried to pull
away but I was powerless. And then her teeth
turned to great fangs and her eyes flooded red
and the world turned black. When I woke up she
was gone and the red tendrils of dawn were
creeping over the horizon. A single, white lily
was lying on the spot where she had stood. I
picked it up and stumbled towards the entrance
where, to my surprise, I bumped into my Dad. What
was an even bigger surprise was that when he saw
me he flung himself at me and enfolded me into a
hug. I was so worried. He breathed. Dont ever
do that again. I looked at the flower nestled
in my hand and without a word I handed it to my
dad. Tears crept into his eyes as he held it
up. It was your Mums favourite flower. He
explained. And then he dropped it to the floor
and we walked off. Youre probably expecting me
to tell you who the girl was, what she was doing
and why she was at the allotments that night. The
truth is, I dont know. I expect I never will.
But perhaps these facts might help you draw your
own conclusions. Afterwards, Dad stopped
drinking and slowly he came from the dark abyss
he had been in. We both sat down and talked long
and hard about Mum until we both felt strangely
at peace. The flower stayed where dad had
dropped it. It disappeared finally but next
spring a bunch of white lilies grew where it had
been. And a few weeks later, when I visited the
allotments again, I could swear I heard a womans
voice laughing with happiness.
13
Thats What I See The Good The Bad By Rosie
Duerdin
14
The greenest grasses, The dirtiest leaves, The
coldest winters, Thats what I see. The
brittle branches, The decaying hay, The crispest
air, Thats what I see.
15
Homes and forests die, All thats left just makes
me sigh. Why do they leave their rubbish on the
floor? Bottles, cans, and even a door. Around
the corner we go, Cockerels, and hens
crow. Pigeons in their hut, But I cant see them
because theyre shut. Homes and forests die,
All thats left just makes me sigh. Why do they
leave their rubbish on the floor? Bottles, cans,
and even a door. Now weve seen the good and the
bad, Will you be happy or will you be sad? I
hope that the mess will be cleared, Or all will
be as we feared?
16
The War Childs Garden By Joe Bower
17
Dont talk to me like that young man Bawled Mr
Edger, but-! . What did I say to you he
continued in an almost hysterical rage. William
could not take it any more, he ran for the door,
and fumbled with the lock for a few seconds
before running out into the street. The vicious
yells of his father chased him down the
lane. Handy Cap Lane was a row of terraced
houses, flanking the coal pit were his father had
worked before the war. 1942. Three years after
the war started, Williams mother had died and
his father, Rupert James Edgar had taken shrapnel
in Switzerland. Rupert was never the same since
his wife died. The sweet night air was a great
relief to him after the musty smell of dusty
velvet and cigar smoke. William was 9 and a
third of his life had been spent in the shadow of
Jerry German, Mister Hitler and the squander bug
William continued to run through the night,
the cold creeping down his arms, legs and throat.
He was going numb but his anger kept him going,
on through the cold, through the darkness,
through the loneliness and loss and pain and
suffering. On and on and on. Eventually he came
to the end of the village, further than he had
ever ran before, but that did not stop him. He
continued to run through the industrial waste
land that used to be a series of allotments. It
was filthy and derelict. The factories used it as
an informal tip, although the refuse was mainly
on the other side, old steel moulds and engine
parts rusted next to soggy torn sofas and
mattresses. It started to rain and it rained
hard, the cold tightened its grip on Williams
heart squeezing every ounce of life from his
body. A dark form loomed up ahead, a large
abandoned shed full of old seeds and garden
tools. He opened the door thinking to shelter
from the un-relenting rain.
18
He sat there in the corner and cried himself to
sleep. He woke with a start in the early morning,
all the thoughts and memories lined up to present
them selves to his conscious mind. Bit by bit he
began to recall the events of last night. It
wasnt very encouraging. His father would beat
him for sure upon his return and he couldnt just
refuse go back. He could hear birds again he
hadnt heard them since the factories opened a
few years ago. He sat and listened to the birds
and thought for the best part of an hour before
standing up and dusting himself down. He picked
up a spade, for some reason he could not later
fathom, went out side and started to dig. He
wasnt a farm boy or a miner he was skinny and
he found it difficult to penetrate the sun baked
top soil. After two or three hours he had dug a
hole about two feet square and half a foot deep.
He sat down his arms and back aching he was
intensely thirsty and his head was beginning to
throb. William Desmond Edger lay
still in the hole, save for his slow, natural
breathing, dead to the world. A thought suddenly
came to him through his fatigued mind.
Seeds. He needed to plant seeds, and so got
back up again and climbed out of the hole, (this
time not bothering to dust himself down) and went
back into the shed picked up a packet of pumpkin
seeds. He scattered the seeds in the bottom of
the hole and kicked some soil over them.
Seemingly satisfied and content, he turned back
to the direction he believed to contain his home
village. He walked down Handy Cap Lane every
step seeming a mile, when he finally came to his
front door he stopped, gritted his teeth and
opened the door
19
Whats a Better Thing to See? By Rosi Elliott
20
Whats a better thing to see Than a growing
sapling tree? Or a little carrot top Poking out
the flowerpot? Or a chicken scurrying
about Running at the slightest shout? Or the look
of scattered seeds What the chicken really
needs! Or the lettuce in the patch? (It has been
grown right from scratch) Or the large expanse of
land As till now untouched by hands? So whats a
better thing to see Than a growing sapling tree?
21
Death of a Dandelion By Natalie Gristwood
22
Gleaming through the day, Like a vivid sunray.
  I begin to cripple gradually- for winter is to
come, Or I will be trampled tragically by a
childs summer fun.   If I live my potential
length of life, I will last two seasons through
hells strife.  
23
Poems By Stephen Hobson
24
Wrecked old area, Littered with debris, Crushed
and ripped, It is a Haven for wildlife, Too bad
for them it wont, Exist much more. For it has
been scheduled, To be cleared within, A single
month or less, Some will miss it as, What a place
it was, A junkyard for all with, So much to
use, For them it was to be abused. Rubbish old
area, Thats what some will say, They will be
happy to see you gone, However I shall be sad too
see, So much and such life, Be pushed away and
cleared. Much of the ground around, The area has
already, Been changed, And is now populated by
those, Who want to grow things? And want peace
and quiet, Too bad that place will soon, Grow in
size and space.

25
Wellies By Natalie Gristwood
26
Ripples of pink and orange shimmer, And the sun
radiantly shines and makes them glimmer. Blades
of grass, mud and grain, Slither and slide across
like rain. My Path is shown I have left my
mark, However they are unseen- when within the
dark.  
27
Listen to the Radio By Grant Wilkinson
28
Everyday I walk through the allotments. It
doesnt bother me as it would usually take about
15 minutes extra if I walked around it and over
the bridge. If I walk through the allotments Im
home in about 5 minutes. By the way my names
Harry and Im 8 years old. I know you might think
its a bit strange, a young boy like me walking
home on my own (especially in the dark nights),
but ever since my mother died, my dad has been
tied between his work and looking after James my
younger brother. Anyway I think Im straying from
the point a bit, I was going to tell you about
what happened on the way home from school the
other day. Here it goes It had been an average
day at school, double Maths in the morning
followed by a long English lesson and then P.E
and History. I went to the cloakroom to put my
coat, hat and gloves on as it was freezing
outside (it was the middle of winter, 5 days
until Christmas). I threw my bag over my back and
walked out of the school doors, saying good-bye
to Mrs Tall, as I went. I was just walking out of
the front gates when something caught my eye in
the sky. A blue orb of light fell from the sky
into the distance. I thought it was strange but
suddenly it started to rain without any warning
and all curiosity about the ball of light left my
mind. I started running towards the allotments
where I knew I could be a little more sheltered
as the rain was coming down in bucketfuls. I
pushed open the wrought iron gate that served as
an entrance to the allotments. It squealed on
its hinges as I pushed it to one side, feeling
the rust under my fingertips. I started walking
pulling my coat closer to my body, was it just me
or had it just got colder. I walked for about 10
minutes but I couldnt see the other exit
anywhere. I turned back and started to walk back
to the entrance, it would take longer but at
least I would be able to get home. All of a
sudden I stopped. I felt as though someone was
watching me. The hairs on the back of my neck
stood to attention and beads of sweat started
trickling down my forehead even though it was at
least -1ºC. The wind started howling through the
air, picking up leaves and other unpleasant
things. I heard a couple of chickens squawking in
the distance but apart
29
from that the only sound was the wind, swirling
around me. In the distance I could hear a baby
crying. What was a baby doing in a place like
this? I carried on walking regardless of the
wind. I passed a broken cot, an overturned sofa
and a smashed up telly. These were all things
people didnt want anymore and just dumped them
there. No wonder this place has a bad name. I
must have been walking for about another 10
minutes but I still hadnt come across the
entrance to this place. Usually I just walk
straight through, but not today. Somethings
wrong I thought. I looked around at my
surroundings. There were big piles of rubbish and
soggy marsh pits all around me. The thing that
caught my eye though was a strange blue light
surrounding the rubbish, like they were glowing.
I turned away then looked back to see if that
made any difference, what I saw made me nearly
faint with shock. Two people were sitting on the
over turned sofa, but they werent real people,
well they were but not real life people, they
were see through and they had a strange eerie
blue colour about them. Blue and white lights
glowed from around them. They were talking to
each other and didnt seem to notice me so I
slowly crept towards them. They were talking
about the Beatles on the T.V which I thought was
odd as the Beatles werent around anymore. But
then it struck me, these two people, if thats
what you would call them, were ghosts from the
past and that they must have something to do with
that ball of light that fell from the sky. I
then heard crying again, I looked over at the
broken cot and I saw a small baby lying in it,
crying its eyes out. A middle aged woman walked
over to the cot and picked up the baby it
immediately ceased its screaming. They both had
that strange blue glow surrounding them as well.
The woman was dressed in old fashioned clothes
and had hair in an out-of-date hairstyle. I
heard a crackling in the distance so I walked
over to the smashed up telly. On the cracked and
burnt screen, I saw pictures from old T.V shows
that Grandma Samantha watches. What is going
on? I thought. Help! someone whispered. I
looked around desperately looking for the source
of the voice. Where are you? I asked
nervously. Im over here in the radio. Come
quick and help us. I ran over to the radio which
was lying half hidden in the mud. The same
ethereal glow surrounded it. Finally, someone,
said the voice coming from the radios speaker.
30
What do you want? I replied, a little
frightened. Well, its not everyday a radio talks
to you! Young boy, something terrible has
happened. Ghosts from the past are leaking
through to your world and you need to stop it. If
this continues the whole world will be ripped
apart. How? I asked. I was really worried now.
The wind was still howling and the rain was
lashing down. I swear I could even hear the
rumble of thunder. Well young boy, the power of
the ghosts coming into your world is so strong
the world will eventually turn into a black hole
and then all of time and space will be consumed
and humanity will cease to exist. The glow from
the radio suddenly brightened causing me to
shield my eyes. A lightning strike lit up the sky
above me. It was starting. What should I do? I
asked panickly. Find the Orb of Time and the
The voice trailed off. WHAT!? I screamed, the
panic was rising quicker now. That orb of light
that fell from the sky, about half an hour
ago. I looked around, the rain was lashing down
on my face, I could hardly see, but I didnt give
up. I searched high and low, battling against the
unforgiving wind and dodging the lightning
strikes with skills that I had perfected at
football practice. Over the other side of a tall
tower of used tarmac was a large crater about
five meters deep and in the middle of it was a
sphere of ice-blue light. I slid down the side of
the crater and grabbed the orb. 2 minutes later
and I was again at the side of the radio. What
do I do now? I asked it. The ground was shaking
uncontrollably and the rain was starting to numb
my head. Blow on it gently and then throw it
into the air, answered the voice. I blew on it
and then with all the strength I could muster I
threw it into the air. It spun rapidly, and
pulsed slowly and then disappeared in a flash of
blue light. All of a sudden the wind, the rain
and the thunder and lightning stopped. Just like
that. Like nothing had ever happened. Well done
young boy, said the voice. Dont tell anyone
about this. Its best if no-one found out. Best
be safe then sorry. Can I you help me find my
way home? I couldnt find the gates before. I
asked. Oh that was just bit of magic on my
behalf I knew I would need someone to help
me. Thank You, I said to the radio. A wave of
relief came over me.
31
No, thank you Harry. The blue light started to
fade from around the radio. The voices from the
sofa, the cot and the T.V started to
fade. Wait! I shouted to the radio. How do you
know my name? but the radio had turned back to
its original state and was again just a bit of
rubbish that someone had left to rot, not
something that had helped save the world. So
there, thats my story to tell. From now on if
anyone says Im boring, Ill just smile to myself
and think about the time when I saved the world
with a radio. And even though I had saved all of
humanity from being killed I still got a good
telling off from my dad when I got home. Not bad
for a days work. By the way guess what I got for
Christmas A radio.
32
The Diary By Hannah and Katie
33

• Please remember, if your parents tell you to do
  something do it because its for your own good!
• Youre asking me how I know this.? Well, its
  a long story!
• One beautiful but disastrous Sunday, my dad took
  me to the allotments and asked me to clean his
  new plot out. I didnt want to go but I had to.
  At least he was doubling my pocket money! He was
  going to collect the baby chicks in London and if
  you lived in Newcastle, youd know it was a long
  way. So, me and Charlie my friend were left to
  make room for the chicks. In other words, clean
  the plot. So we got started. And an hour later we
  were bored! Well, what do you expect? You would
  be. Charlie got hungry. Well trust her! Always
  thinking of her stomach. Anyway, I went to check
  dads shed because he always seems to think of
  nothing but food as well but it was locked. I
  told Charlie to just to deal with it. She moaned
  a bit but got bored and started to help.
• Half an hour later we both looked up. I was
  sweating and Charlie was worn out so we decided
  to have a break. We went for a wander around the
  allotments and saw a big pile of rubbish and if
  you know me, you would know that I love an
  adventure. Charlie wasnt happy with me climbing
  up the rubbish. In fact she was a bit disgusted
  but she soon followed me as she didnt want to be
  on her own. Shes a bit of a wimp but to be fair
  it was getting dark.

34
I tripped over! What was it? It was stuck on my
shoe! Aaaaaaaaa Get it off I screamed at
Charlie. As I lifted it up I saw an gungy
envelope and tore it off. It was heavy and said
on the front Use with caution. I opened the
envelope and Charlie winced with disgust as I
touched the gunge. Inside was a old silver key
with a dragon as a handle. Suddenly, I remembered
the lock on Dads shed. It had a dragon on to. I
ran towards Dads plot with Charlie puffing
behind me. I reached the shed and put the key in
the lock. As I did so I felt a cold shiver go
through my spine and the hairs on my neck stood
up. I fell backwards with the force. Charlie was
looking at me with a strange look on her face.
What did you do that for? She said Ill open
the door myself then She pushed and pulled the
door. It wont open she said. Ill do it I
said to her. You little weakling I said under
my breath. It wouldnt open for me either so
Charlies thin body slipped through the gap in
the door like a snake. There is a big white pot
here ill try and move it she said. I could see
her pulling on the pot through the gap in the
door. I heard a scrape on the floor. Try and
slip through now she shouted. It was a bit of a
squeeze but I managed. Whats in this pot? I
said scraping the dark muck out of it. Suddenly
my hands felt something leathery on them.
35
I pulled and to my surprise out came a small
black leather diary with the words The Coltrane
Diary engraved on it. All the pages were brown
and wrinkled but I could read the last one. The
date said The 5th July 1996. I turned to
Charlie and said the day he died. I wasnt
that close with my granddad but I always knew by
his expression that some sorrow had come from his
life. I never got round to asking him about it
obviously I was only two but I vowed that one day
I would find out what happened to his friend
he was always talking about in his dreams. This
was my chance to find out. His diary was right
here. As I scanned through the words my eyes
locked on some capital letters which read PLEASE
GRANDSON DONT GO ANY FURTHER as I read on I
learnt that my granddad had had a vision into the
future seeing something happening to me. Charlie
had started heading towards a glint in the rock.
I told her to go no further but she carried on.
It was like she was in a trance. She couldnt
remember anything. I grabbed her hand and pulled
her towards the door. Suddenly I remembered the
diary! It was still open. I felt it was best to
re bury it in memory of my granddad and incase
anyone else tried to do what we did. As soon as
I closed the diary she snapped out of the trance
and said Where are we? I told her it didnt
matter any more and just to get out of there.
36
We ran towards my dads car which was parked
outside the allotment. Wow time had gone fast I
thought to myself. Have you finished yet he
asked. We looked at each other. Well finish
next week Dad I said I promise. Oh by the
way I found a picture of Granddad in the back of
the car. You didnt put it there did you? said
Dad No I didnt I said. I always knew he would
look out for me I thought to myself.