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| The following are short excerpts from some creative writing done by the Grade Six and Seven students. |
"What the Spirit Didn't Know" by Alex S.
It was a crisp autumn afternoon as Eddie and I walked down the street, schoolbooks in hand. We clambered up the steps of my house and threw open the screen door, letting it slam behind us. We tossed our books on the table and I grabbed a sack out of the cupboard. In it I put a flashlight, a few snacks and my trusty Swiss army knife. Quiet as a couple of ghosts, we slipped out the back door.
The air was chilly now and I pulled my scarf tightly around my frozen cheeks. After heading quite a ways down a cobblestone alley, we found ourselves before a small forest. I looked at Eddie, he nodded timidly, and we made our way into the woods. My thoughts wandered and we unintentionally began to quicken our pace, pushing branches and twigs aside as we went. The sky glowed a vibrant pink as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. The rustling of leaves could be heard in the distance and, suddenly, darkness came, as though somebody had turned off the lights.
As the forest floor began to slope away, we found ourselves descending into a sea of blackness. Climbing tentatively down the slope, we found ourselves constantly losing our footing on the slippery rocks and debris. No sooner had we reached the flat ground, when we came upon a sudden stop. We clung to the ivy-covered rocks, our hands stinging with excruciating pain and our hearts pounding with intense fear.
Finally, after a slippery descent, our feet hit the solid floor of pine needles and fallen leaves. I held out my hand before me, although it was lost in a blanket of darkness, before taking a few steps forward.... |
"Diamond Head Hike" by Blake E.
Finally, it was my turn to go on the famous Grade Seven hike even though I'm in Grade 6. I was so excited I could hardly wait. "Waking with the birds", we arrived at school at 7:40 a.m. It was a crisp, cool autumn morning and I was ready to begin our expedition....
All of the kids groaned when Mr. Hayes reminded us that we would be climbing to an elevation of 5,300 feet.
With our first steps, we crunched up the gravel. We climbed higher and higher, our breath escaping like the steam of an engine, through a deep evergreen forest with berry shrubs and rushing water on either side....
Throughout the first part, there were "peek-a-boo" vistas and sunlight shining through the trees and then it was if the trees parted to reveal the beauty of a bright alpine meadow. Reds, oranges and purples of the heather lay before us. This changed quickly to a muddy trail with exposed roots and bridges over small creeks. Having reached the Red Heather Campground, we took photos and had some well-deserved snacks. As we stopped to catch our breath, we were treated to beautiful views of the Tantalus Range, its jagged peaks thrusting skyward and its glaciers glinting in the sun. There was also a clear view of Mt. Garibaldi, an extinct volcano.
The sun beat down on me. I was perspiring as I reached for my water bottle. We continued to make our way, one step at a time towards the icy relief of the Elfin Lakes. From there you could see the Squamish Valley and a number of snow-capped mountains.
I punched the air with excitement. We had reached our destination, the high point of 5300 feet. At the lakes there was a lodge and a picnic area. There we ate lunch. I don't think I have ever tasted better food. The moment had arrived. Should I take the plunge? If my brother, Stephen, could do it, as he had done last year, then so could I!
When I stepped in, the cold ran through my body in a rush, causing me to lose all feeling. Deciding it was now or never, the frigid iceberg blue water washed over my face, running down my neck and back with icy fingers....
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"The Secluded Mansion" by Alex B.
Travelling down the old gravel road, the taxi lurched over the pot holes. I should not have been complaining, anyway. I was lucky to have gotten this taxi. In the sudden downpour, everything else was taken. At first the sight of this vehicle creeped me out. It was long and black and reminded me of a hearse, but once I was seated inside, the worn leather seats were quite comfortable.
A million thoughts raced through my mind as we drove. I knew seeing the house and its magnificent rooms would bring back memories of my childhood: sitting on the velvet arm of the chair in my grandfather's study, smelling the sweet tobacco of his pipe, listening to his deep soothing voice as he read to me. The Yearling, that was my favourite. We never did finish it. That's when my father took me and my mother away, to America. I was too young to understand why my father and grandfather had quarreled so bitterly. It had something to do with my mother. My grandfather had disapproved of her. In his day, women were fragile and proper. Not my mother; nothing could hold her back. Whatever she wanted to do, she'd do it!
Thinking back, my grandfather was right. Shortly after we got to America she abandoned us. My father was too proud to admit his mistake and never did make up with my grandfather. Now I lost both men in my life, and was left alone in the world with no one to guide me.
The cab driver met my eyes in the mirror. He must have sensed my pain and asked, "Why are you going to such a gloomy part of town? Not that it's any of my business."
"It's my grandfather's estate. Well, actually it's mine now," I replied. I wasn't going to tell a total stranger about my grandfather's mysterious disappearance my reason for coming.
We went around another bend, and there it was. Loxbury. Through the rusted wrought iron gates lay what had been the finest mansion in Cambridge, now just shambles. Nature had intruded onto the once grand drive. Brambles and nettles crept across the vines and strangled the magnificent oaks with their grasping fingers.
We circled the round-about and stopped at the foot of the limestone steps. Moss embedded the cracks and chips of the cold stone. I jumped at the sound of a broken shutter slapping against the aged, stained siding.
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"The Big Bear Attack" by Alex P.
The sun was beaming off the lake and the chimes were ringing fron the touch of a warm breeze. It was a typical summer day in Sudbury, Ontario in 1994. My family and I lived on a beautiful lakeside property in the middle of the Canadian Shield. We had few neighbours and the people we met were extremely generous and friendly; we felt that we were part of a large family.
It was the only time in our the life of our dog, Tonya, that she had the freedom to roam where she pleased. She quickly developed a relationship with our neighbour, Peter, when she discovered he had always longed for a dog. He treated her with more lvoe than my family ever could. As she followed him around all day, he would make a bed for her, feed her her favourite treats, which he said 'honestly' were donuts. Most importantly, he would take her on walks, as she demanded.
Opening the door, Peter yelled, "I'm taking Tonya for a walk, is that okay?"
"Please do," my Mom replied. "See you in a while."
Off the two went, climbing slowly up the road until they came to the crest of the bluff. The two looked like they belonged together, Tonya with her blonde coat, and the golden sun glowing between them. Before they disappeared over the knoll Tonya was bounding ahead of Peter.
Hours later we heard the story about the events that took place on their walk. Peter, with his English accent, started, "I was dawdling by the bend, and the next thing I knew, Tonya ran into the woods!" He paused, and started speaking in an apologetic voice. "I expected that Tonya was simply chasing a squirrel or flushing out a bird.... Suddenly I heard her yelping! My first instinct was to run in, to search for Tonya." Peter continued in dismay, "Sure enough, there she was, in the grip of a bear's mouth!" ....
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Montroyal Elementary 5310 Sonora Drive
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7R 3V8
Phone: 604.903.3650
Fax: 604.903.3651
Attendance: 604.903.3711
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