Creative Kids

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 264, 22 November 1988, Page 13

Creative Kids

This week Raetihi Primary School \ ':V ; y : • •• . • : • ;• 5 iWSK 5 S: : : y::: '.V. •• :S: : - ' • • : ..:•••• • • •: •

The February sun was shining as bright as a marigold and perspiration was dripping off my forehead. However, I wasn't quite as cheery.

The cool, refreshing river, at the back of our farm stood o u t clearly in my mind and I yearned to go there and swim. But my brothers, Peter and Jack and I, couldn't spend the last t w o hours of the brilliant afternoon there, because my bike had a puncture, and it was much too far to walk. I rattled my brain, trying hard to find s o m e possible solution, when Peter suddenly jumped up and declared. "I've got it!" I spun my head around to face him, my eyes fervent.

"We'll take Trex!", he shouted. My heart sank deep into my shoes, and I gave a sigh. Trex, short for Tyrannasaurus Rex, was an old horse, which hardly ever moved an inch. It was doubtful he'd ever cantered in his life. "Peter, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Of course we can't take Trex if we expect to be back in time for Christmas." I retorted. "Me and Peter are taking Trex, aye Pete?" Four year old Jack insisted.

"Get up now!", came Dad's booming voice.

I heard Sarah moan, and sleepily say, "come on, time to get up". Today was the big day. It was the McDonald's Cup skiing race. I hastily devoured my breakfast while Dad bustled round, organising everything. - (skis on the car, gloves, hats, and boots in the car etc.) Finally we got into the car and we left. When I got there, I put on my skis and waited for Sarah and Dad. They came up a minute later with their skis and poles. Dad also had our bibs. I was number one, and Sarah was number fourteen. Dad said I was lucky because there would be no rats. I wasn't so sure. But soon after we arrived at the site of the race, I learned there was only one other person in the group. I was certain I would be second or disqualified. The starting call went, the course had been checked, so it was go from now. I was called to the starting line. Then the starter said, "four, three .... " I was off. Hurtling down the course! Smashing into some of the poles! Then crouching into the finish line. Pleased with my ran I hiked back up to the start. I had to wait for a while before my second ran. When it finally came, I was nervous. My opponent

was. ten times better around the poles because the ruts were clear and deep and it was rough going. Eventually I made it through the finish line. I looked on the scoreboard and saw my first score. It was 42.28 than I was, so I was sure she should win. "Four, three, two ...." I was off again! Racing the clock! I stumbled as I went seconds. I thought it was pretty good. I then went up to the start and waited for Sarah and Dad. While I was waiting, I met my opponent (Tara). She said she was sure she missed a pole. I wasn't. Dad came up an hour later and we went to the Ruapehu College hall for the prize giving. I decided to look at the results. I looked down to my group (J5) and saw that Tara had been eliminated. 'I was first!' Joy and pride rashed through me! For once I was first. Running up to Dad, I said, "Dad, I came first." Dad smiled and said, "good one. It just goes to show you can do it if you just try!" When the prize giving came, I was proud when they called m y name and I walked up to receive my award. It just goes to show, as Dad said, you can do it if you try.

by i

Emma

Cornwall

Jack would've jumped off a cliff if Peter had told him to, and 'two-against-one' was not a comfortable position to be in, so I gave up. "Mum and Dad aren't going to like you taking Trex. He's getting too old and tired. I'll take your bike Peter, and you boys can ride the horse", I decided. Riding horses was not a special hobby of mine and besides if the boys got caught, I wouldn't be in trouble, or so I thought then. It took quite a while to reach the river, and when we did, it seemed like a stream of diamonds sparkling in the now torrid sun. W e immediately leaped into the river, leaving the horse, and the 'Rally Twenty' on the bank to supervise. The river was so refreshing, and the three of us were having so much fun frolicking about, that we lost track of time, and before we knew it, the afternoon began to close in. So we jumped out of the pool, almost as quickly as we had got in, dried ourselves and started off home for fear of Mum and Dad learning the horse was gone. However something terrible happened. When the two boys clicked their tongues and dug their heels into the side of the possibly oldest horse in the world, it just wouldn't go! In fact it just stood there eating the nice green grass and enjoying the view of the countryside. No matter what they did the horse didn't seem to take any notice. I tried pushing it, but Trex just gave a faint neigh and brashed his tail in my face. "Let me try Kay", Jack whined, easing off the horse. Together we tried moving Trex, while Peter just sat on the horse moaning, sighing and fidgeting. Suddenly, just as we were about to give up hope, the horse pricked up its ears and dug its heels in the ground, then it started to gallop at full speed in the direction of the deadly patch of blackberry

bushes that could be seen growing all over the farm. Its hooves were pounding on the soft earth, and its tail swished behind him, as wildly as the wind itself, while the horrified Peter clutched the horse's mane and screamed as loudly as he could. He found it impossible to get off. The horse had gone completely berserk and it was like watching a rodeo as Peter was now being hurled everywhere. "Jump off Peter, jump off!" I shrieked. "I can't stupid, I'll hurt myself" he managed to clamour back. Although I shouldn't have, I couldn't help a wee smile as I watched the horse throw Peter off into the blackber-

ries. Well, you can hardly blame me. Imagine if you saw your brother fly across the sky and then disappear into a mass of prickles and berries with a few shrieks to go with it! When Jack and I ran over to where Peter was, we tried to disguise the laughter by pretending to weep. Actually we were crying over the sheer humour of the situation. Helping him out of the bushes was a trial also, as he was almost too sore to move, and when he emerged, he was covered in blackberry juice and aching from the thorns. I suppose you're wondering how we got home? Well, to tell you the

! truth, we had no trouble at all! Jack led Trex, who suprisingly walked with us ever so slowly and I doubled the injured Peter on his bike. Boy, did we cop it when we got home though! Firstly, we were all sent to bed wkhout any tea and then our pocket money was cut off for two whole months. I suffered from having no pocket money the most. After all, it was hardly fair that I should be blamed for m y brother's dishonesty. Then the most horri-

ble, terrible thing happened. The exhausted Trex just lost the will to live after the massive effort he put into his last gallop, just to get us home. He didn't have the strength left to carry on, and sadly passed away. Now, whenever I think of the Tyrannasaurus Rex, I have mixed feelings. One's of sadness for the loss of a slow, but sure friend, but I also remember the real live dinasour side of him, and a smile creeps onto my face.

Lisa

Crowley

Mum had finally given the okay for me and my four mates, (Greg, John, Billy and Raymond) to go camping. I knew the tracks and dangerous places of the reserve that we were going on. Dad took me hunting there every Saturday and Sunday. Turn page

Creative Kids

From page 13 We started out on Friday March 19 and walked for two hours. "Dad and I have set up a small camp next to a rather wide and deep river." I explained to my mates. As we crossed a low swing bridge (that had been erected one year ago), we heard the faint echoed rumble of thunder. "Stupid weather report, couldn't tell the weather if they flamin' made it," screamed John, shaking his fist at the sky. "Don't worry", I said calmly, we'll be at the camp in less than five minutes." When we reached the camp, it just started raining and John, Greg and Billy were all sleeping on their feet. "For starters, we've got to get our gear unpacked and a fire started", suggested Raymond. "Come on you lazy lot, Raymond's right, we've got to get something done around here or we'll all be singing in the rain", I said. After fixing everything so it wouldn't leak or blow away, we made a nice cuppa and hit the sack. At about two in the morning, I woke u p with water swirling around. I jumped up, forgetting I was in a bivouac, B a n g ! "Aaghh" I screamed, rubbing my head. "Frigghh" I said, as a hand grabbed m y mouth. "Now, now Chris," said Greg with a smirk - "language boy". We both stood there, ankle deep in water, laughing at each other. Finally we stopped and I asked "where are the others, are they all BRIDGE j Bridge results Wednesday November 16. i N/s 1st P. Kennedy - R. Martin 60.5 2nd, E. Hansen - S. Mablin 50.5, E/W 1st Equal J. & G. Mottram 57.5, H. Cranston - G . Fraser 57.5, 2nd L. Eades - P. LeNoel 49.

right?" "Yeah", he replied, "They're up that hill in a little farm hut". We both scurried around looking for waterproof matches, carried food and anything else that would help us. You see, the water had carried nearly everything away with it. As I waded through the turbulent water, I saw something bolt across the top of a small flat topped hill. "Greg", I screamed, "Did you see that big mama." "Yeah, she looked like a boar crossed with an elephant", he said. I waded over to Greg who looked like he had been hit with a sledgehammer. "Come t>n mate before that big mug gets us", I worried. "We must tell the others about the boar or he might wake us up in the middle of the night." We both scarpered up to the hut and woke the other two. Greg told them about the boar while I kept an eye out for him. For at least an hour we stayed awake but finally we all fell asleep. After what seemed like five minutes sleep, I woke up to a loud thumping, so being very curious I stuck my head out the door. At the bottom of the hill, I saw him, tusks ripping from his face, red penetrating eyes (which were boring down on me), and the hairs on his b a c k sticking up like the quills of a hedge-hog. While we stared at each other, a stocky bull mastive crept from behind a large manuka bush. Along the flooded bank came the pig dog, cautious with years of experience, (stalking the pig) making sure not to be seen and when h e reached the closest he could get, a faint but distinctive voice came from the bush. "Here Bully, come 'ere ya beaten up runt." It was Dad and while pig hunting he thought he might check up on us.