Santa?

Young Henry never got the concept of Santa. One day, he recieved a set of toy soldiers. "Yay! They can kill Santa now." He squealed. His mother put her head in her hands and shook her head.

Henry's parents watched in horror at the murder of Henry's toy santa. Henry's full set of toy soldiers were neatly lined up in a row, all similtaniously shooting poor Santa Claus repetitively. "Son, that's not what Santa...." Henry's father stepped forward, trying to explain to his son the concept of Santa. Then came the sound effects. "Crash! Boom! Bang!" Then poor Santa fell to his death for what must've been the fifth time in a row.

Henry's father watched many films with Henry before he even began to grasp the concept of Santa. "So Santa job isn't to die?" Henry asked after they had finished watching 'The Santa Claus Trilogy'. "No son. Santa's job isn't to die." Henry's father wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mummy?" Henry turned to his mother later that night. "Yes Henry?" Henry's mother replied, turning around to face her son. "What's Santa's job?" "To make presents for all the boys and girls and deliver them on Christmas Eve."

At last, Henry understood the idea of Santa Claus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wishing you all a very merry christmas and a happy new year. Happy holidays everyone!

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I'll be back on 7th January 2011.

The Great Magico

There was once a great magician. An illusionist. The Great Magico as he called himself.

But the Great Magico still had many things to learn. Many things. So, one day he went to a magician, an illusionist who knew more than he did.

The Great Magico visited him for weeks. He practiced and practiced. Until, one day, he had perfected the craft of magic.

At his next show, the Great Magico pulled a little black and white cat out of his hat and also pulled out a flower for every lady who was in the audience.

After the lessons, the Great Magico's shows were better than ever.

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Inspired by the musical CATS and the character 'Mr. Mistofelees'.

The Journey of Life

I'm Brooke and I've just graduated from high school. Now comes the rest of my life. Now comes reality. But what do I want to do with it? I have absolutely no idea. Up until my goal has been to graduate from high school. Well, I've done that. Now what? My parents think I should go to uni. But to go to uni, I have to have some idea of what I want to do. But me, I've got nothing. Not a thing.

Someone once told me that life is a journey, not a destination. You've got to take it slow and steady, just like the tortise in that children's story. Slow and steady wins the race. I guess they're right in a way. If you go speeding off from the starting line, you get tired pretty quick, and eventually you've got to stop and slow down. In the long run, racing doesn't really get you anywhere. In my opinion it's better to go slow, stop relax and enjoy the moments as they pass you by.

I'll decide in my own time what I'd like to do with the rest of my life. But for now, I'll sit back, relax, take it slow and enjoy the ride to my future ahead.

Life is a journey, a path one takes, a path with twists and turns and ups and downs. The path is a journey. The journey of life.

Matthew & Son

Matthew was only thirteen years old when he realised his ambition in life. To open a building company.

So, when Matthew was 22, he had just finished his two degrees, one in businees and the other a building degree from tafe. He had a girlfriend by that time, Fiona.

A year later, when Matthhew was 23, his business was well underway. Matthew and Son. Fiona and Matthew became engaged, due to be married the next year.

Eventually, in Matthew and Fiona's early thirties, Fiona had their first child. A son. They named him Darren.

When Matthew was in his mid forties, he grew to be quite a grumpy man. Working at building sites all day and then managing the company late into the night made him not pleasent to be around when he had spare time.

When, Matthew turned 46, he took up smoking. This, quickly made him sick with emphasema.

When Matthew's son, Darren was only twenty three, he was forced to take over Matthew and Son, when his father died at the age of 55 from the emphasemia he had gotten from taking up smoking 9 years earlier.

All current Matthew and Son employees agree that Darren is a much better boss than Matthew had ever been.

Lilly's Van Gough dream

Lilly was only fifteen when her career began. Eversince she had been a small child, Lilly had loved to paint. finger paintings, marble paintings, still lives and many other types.

Lilly looked up to many artists, but her favourite was Vincent Van Gough. This is because Vincent Van Gough did the same types of paintings Lilly does, still life and abstract.

When Lilly was 15 and going into year 9 at high school, she chose art as an elective subject. That was what started her in her career as an artist. As Lilly's teacher came around to see how her students were going, she noticed Lilly's excellent painting and her extrodinary talent as a painter. "That looks really, really good Lilly." Mrs Eddings told Lilly, eyeing her work more closely, not believing the amount of talent within Lilly.

Later on that year, Lilly's art class was given an assignment. They were to select one famous artist and write up a profile on them. Of course, Lilly selected Vincent Van Gough.

When Lilly had to do her presentation on Vincent Van Gough a few weeks later, there was a special guest in the class. What Lilly did not know was that the special guest was from a special art school for young artists. She had come to watch Lilly, at Mrs Eddings request and see her work.

At the end of the lesson, Lilly was held back and formally introduced to the special guest, whom told Lilly that she could attend a special school for young artists in the city if she wanted to.

Lilly discussed the offer with her parents that night, and they all agreed that Lilly may accept the offer.

Lilly's paintings were publically recognised 3 years later when Lilly was 18. She was helping out at a family garage sale and had some of her paintings for sale. One man who come to browse at the garage sale saw Lilly's paintings and said he would buy them for double the price and put them in the art gallery he owned.

So Lilly is now known around the world as an artist, and a very good one at that.

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dedicated to my Aunty Michelle. The real artistic talent in my family. Happy birthday.

All A Dream

Polly is a young girl of five years. One Sunday afternoon, just like she does every other Sunday, Polly hangs in a secret clearing.


On this particular Sunday, Polly grew tired during her visit to the secret clearing, so she lay down, closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. When Polly woke up, she felt something funy, sitting on her chest. A tiny little bunny. Polly felt something warm, wet on her hand. She looked to her side. It was a tiny puppy, licking at her hand. She sat up. Over near the flowerbed stood a horse.

Polly got up and rubbed her eyes, then blinked a few times. It was real, as far as she could tell. So, she stood up and brushed herself down, then walked over toward the horse, the puppy and bunny following close behind.

Polly got up on the horse and they begin riding around, then they came to a dark aisle, lined by trees. Polly and the horse turned to go back the other way. Polly looked back. She saw a dark figure. A person most likely. He appeared to be charging toward Polly and the horse. Polly gasped, clenched her eyes closed and quickly looked away.

Polly felt sometthing, someone nudge her. Her eyes open. Above her, gently shaking her was her grandmother. "You fell asleep Polly." Her grandma said. "It was all just a dream." "All a dream." Polly repeated.

Darren's Holden Wish

Darren was 10 years old. He was a boy who loved cars. Especially holden. But unfortunately, he had a brain tumour which the doctors told his parents meant he wasn't expected to live past sixteen.

Darren regularly went down to the childrens hospital at Westmead for treatment, and also regularly visited the starlight room where he would watch the starlight channel live, do some craft, play video games or play with Captain Starlight himself!

One day, Darren's mother Wendy pulled Captain Starlight aside, asking him if he thought they could grant Darren's wish of meeting Mark Schafee and riding with him in his race car. Captain Starlght agreed.

So a few months later, Darren's wish came true. He and his mother were flown down to Melbourne where at a race track, they met Mark Schafee and Darren was taken for a ride with him in his race car.

It was, and still is the best day of Darren's life. A moment never to be forgotten.

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dedicated to my Uncle Michael. Happy belated birthday!

Princess? Or Just Queen Bee?

Regina believes that everyone at school loves her. She thinks she's like a teen idol and that everyone worships her. Her friends believe the exact same thing.

But in actual fact, everyone is scared of her. They just act that way out of fright. Even her two sidekicks were scared. They, more than anyone else knew exactly what Regina was like and was capble of.

Regina would turn up at the end of a corridor and the students would part like the red sea so that she could walk through them. Again, out of fear. Fear of what she would do if she didn't get her own way.

It took an awful lot for Regina to realise what other people's versions of a popular girl are. She went undercover as an exchange student to see what it was like to be 'not popular'.

Regina didn't like what she saw. Her group was really mean to everyone else, and so self centered! It was then that Regina realised the extent of her actions. Her peers were scared of her. They didn't really like her at all! She wasn't at all popular. Instead, she and her friends were like monstors in a sea of scared children. This was not what Regina wanted.

In the weeks after she went undercover, Regina's behaviour has changed dramatically. She has become a more kind, friendly, caring person in the weeks since her undercover venture. Regina's school comunity has changed for the better.

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Inspired by 'Mean Girls' the movie.

In His Eyes

People see things differently. Everyone sees thing differently. Because everyone has their own, personal opinion. Jane was a person who knew all abouyt personal opinions. Everyone has them.

Jane was a very empathetic person and everyone knew it. All her friends constantly told her so. "No no." Jane would always say, trying to be modest.

One day, Jane and her husband Jeff had an argument. Jeff went out for a while, to get some air and think. Meanwhile, Jane sat at home to think herself. But she thought not of her wants, but of Jeff's wants.

When he came home, they talked it over and everything was ok.

All due to her wonderful empathy.

Denise

Denise was a very good, popular girl. She loved life and her friends. Denise was a fun, happy- go lucky person who every one loved to be around.

But, one day, something happened to Denise. Something unforgettable, something unchangable. It started when she began to feel sick one late Tuesday evening.

Her mother rushed her to hospital, and she was immediately rushed to sugery. Her lungs had failed, so had her heart. The doctors did everything they could. But, unfortunately, they couldn't save her.

Her mother sat in her chair in the waiting room for hours. Crying. She may as well have been rowing a boat in a lake filled with her own tears. Quite a few doctors felt sorry for her and came over to comfort her as she cried for the loss of her daughter. Only 24 hours ago had she been healthy. Ansolutely fun. But now, now she was up. Up there.

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Dedicated to the memory of Maria. You made a mistake. Rest in peace.

Stella's Grandad

The main male figure in Stella's life was her grandad. Her parents had split up when Stella was just a year old. After that, her father disappeared.

Now, at the age of 5, Stella admired her grandad more than any other male in the world. He was one of the best things that could ever have happened to her. He made her smile and laugh when she was frowning and sad. He played with her, joked with her, loved her, hugged her and held her.

To Stella, her Grandpa was like a star who walked on the red carpet. He was the man that proudly held Stella on his shoulders. He was the man who loved her, held her, hugged her and was there for Stella whenever and if ever she needed him.

Stella's grandad was always there. He always loved her and always, no matter what, supoorted her. No matter what, he was always, always there.

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Dedicated to my own Grandad. Thanks for always, always being there. Happy birthday!

The 'Alien' Encounter

There was once a girl. That girl ws unruly. Her parents had tried everything they could think of. But still, nothing. She was misbehaving in school and her grades were rapidly deteriorating. Her parents were both on the verge of a meltdown. This was the fourth high school she had attended. So far she had had 3 expelsions from previous schools and was on her third suspension at her current. One more and she would be expelled from that school too.

That girl is me. Hi, I'm Kate. Known to my family as Kate the Catastrophe. I'm pretty much a rebel. I donm't like my family much. They're not that interesting. My sister, Fiona, she's alright. But she's the only one I even like.

Fiona is a goody two shoes. She does great at school, is the top of her year for pretty much every subject and has pretty much no social life. That's because she spends all her free time studying. Fiona's cool. She's a little strange too. She believes that ghosts, vampires, aliens and all that are real. But I just think that is a load of rubbish. Although my nan always tells me "You'll be thinking differenly when your sister discovers something unusual. Believe you me, Kate. You'll be thanking your lucky stars Fiona is your sister when that happens."

But what was to come, neither Fiona or I were prepared for...

On Monday, I recieved my fourth and final suspension and expellsion from the last school in our area. I had inflicted violence on a fellow peer. But that was normal for me. Yep, I know what you're thinking 'Good heavens! Holy mackrel!' Just hear me out, ok. Because what happened next will blow your mind.

"Right, that's it. I've warned you time and time again Kate. But that is the final straw!" Mum shouted at me. "You're going to military school." So the next day, as promised, I was shipped off to military school.

When I returned home for a visit that weekend, the unthinkable happened. I was hanging out with Fiona in her room, when suddenly. "Kate! Look! It's a sdpace ship!" She yelled. "You're joking!" I laughed. "No Kate. I'm serious. Seriously, look!" She shouted at me. I looked, and sure enough, there was a spaceship racing towards us. It crash landed in our front garden.

Fiona and I ran out front to have a look. A little carpet rolled down from the space ship. The door rolled down and out walked the weirdest thing I had ever seen. "Nan was right after all." I muttered. "I come in peace. I surrender to my superior." It said, raising it's arms as if Fiona and I were pointing guns at it, ready to fire any moment. "Take us to your leader." Fiona ordered it. It did as asked. We followed it. It was quite tall. It looked to me like a cross between a shark, mosquito, snake, crocodile and vulture. I shuddered.

"I am Dlanket. I come in peace. I surrender to my superior." Dlanket repeated, once we were inside his spaceship. Just then an image appeared before us. It was of an alien. One that looked just the same as Dlanket. "Sir Flanket! Highness." Dlanket exclaimed, bowing slightly.

He might have been Dlanket's leader. I didn't know. Fiona seemed intrigued though. "I come in peace. I surrender to myI knew superior." Dlanket repeated, yet again. By this stage, I was convinced that Dlanket was a robot."I am your superior you dim wit!" Sir Flanket yelled. "I knew I shouldn't have sent you! I knew I'd regret this!" He shouted, even louder this time.

"You are to return to the Home Planet immediately!" He yelled. Before Fiona and I knew what was going on, we were sitting with saw backsides on the green dewy grass on our front lawn. I got up dusted myself off and began my self defense routine. I had only been at military school for a week. But that was a week long enough to learn how to defend myself in an emegency. And thos was certainly an emergency.

But by the time I had turned around, the alien space ship had vanished.

And so the story of my first, and last alien encounter. Even now that I have seen an 'alien', I still think Fiona's theories are rubbish. Not that I tell her of course! I reckon he was a robot. Either that or the whole thing was a dream sequence. I still think that the 'alien' was a robot. Even now, looking back at that weird and whacky day.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the dream sequence. It was real. Not that I believe it, and not that I ever will. I believe it was all a hazy vision. Made up courtesy of my weird and whacky brain.

Dance Competition

Eversince she was a little girl, Jane had loved to dance. Mainly the waltz.

She and her husband, Henry had been dancing for 46 years when they were asked to represent their suburb, Gosford in NSW of Australia in a dancing competition for couples. They agreed and set off to Sydney for the competition.

Jane would amit to Henry every night how scared she was. After all, Jane had never been in a competition before, let alone a dancing competition. Every night, over and over, Henry would tell her the exact same thing. "You're a wonderful dancer Love. You'll knock 'em dead."

Jane only believed him the moment before they went on stage. Their song, 'In His Eyes' began. Henry held out his hand. "Come on, Jane. Let's show those kids how it's done." Jane took Henry's hand, and together they stepped out onto the dancefloor and do what they did best. Dance.

It came down to Jane and Henry and 4 other couples who had done the waltz. It was then that Jane became really nervous then. She and Henry were the oldest couple there. Henry being 67 and Jane 65. Jane felt for all the other couples in that round with them.

Hazel and Ernie, were a couple in their 50's from Adelaide in South Australia. They had performed to the classic ABBA, 'Super Trouper'. That had been the song that had played the night the couple first met when they were in their late teenage years. It was special to them.

Rebecca and Maurice were a couple in their late 30's from Kalgoolie in Western Australia. They had dedicated their performance to their son, Murray, who was sitting watching them in the audience. He had been a miracle child. He had down's syndrome. Their song had been 'Saving Grace'.

Wes and Ella were in their mid 20's. They came from Melbourne in Victoria. 'Love is All Around' had been their song. Even Ella had not been prepared for what came after they danced. He bent down on one knee and asked her hand in marriage. She had accepted.

Liam and Danielle were the youngest couple in the competition, in their late teenage years. They were from Craddle Mountain in Tasmania. 'Sugar Mouse' had been the song they had performed to. They had said it was 'their' song. They had grown up and been through school together. Now, they had started going out.

Charlotte and Ernie were eliminated first. Then the judges had needed to see the four remaining couples perform again. They deliberated again then. Rebecca and Maurice had been eliminated next. However, they were given a constalation prize after hearing the story of their son, Murray. They were given $500 dollars toward Murray's schooling, flowers and a box of chocolates.

Then it was down to Wes and Ella, Danielle and Liam and Jane and Henry, who would all be placed. Jane and Henry came third, Liam and Danielle second and Wes and Ella first.

The top 5 couples were then asked to come back on to the dancefloor and they did this group, rotation dance to 'Without Love'. The men stood in a line, and starting with their own partner, they took one step forward, back, side and side and then the girl would spin on to the next man and repeat the process.

Jane was really pleased with third place as was Henry. They continued to dance in competitions and won the very next one they entered.

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dedicated to the dancing queen of my family, my grandmother Lynette. Happy birthday Grandma!

Lake Cloud

Hallie and her dad had hung out at the same spot since Hallie was really little. The dock placed looking out over Lake Cloud. It was their favourite spot to go.



Every Sunday, Hallie's dad would buy them ice cream sundaes and they would sit, legs dangling over the dock, side by side looking out at the view. That was how they bonded. Then, they'd play catch in Lake Cloud Park. That was fun. It was a routine. A fun, happy routine that both Hallie and her dad looked forward to every week.

But when Hallie's parents split up, her dad disappeared, never to be seen again. Hallie was devestated. Now who would she go to Lake Cloud with?

When she was 14, Hallie retrurned to Lake Cloud by herself. It was then that she met Heath. They began to date. Usually going to Lake Cloud.

Hallie's dad turned up many ytears later, when Hallie was 19 and engaged to Heath. She gulped when she saw him. When he spotted her, he came bounding over. "Hallie! Sweet heart!" He said, trying to hug her. "No Dad. No. YOu left me when I was a vulnerable, innocent, naive little girl. You walked away from me. So now, I'm returning the favour, and walking away from you." Hallie told him, turned and began to walk off, back to Heath.

Hallie never heard from her Dad again. She and Heath were married a year later, when Hallie was 20, at the same place thwy had first met. Lake Cloud.

A New Life

There was always something different about me. I had known it all my life. I had never been popular at school. But instead, a nerd. They had all called me "Reni the Genie". But not in a nice way. In a mean, joking, mocking way. Not that I cared. I just tried to keep a low profile and keep my grades up. That was all that mattered to me. Being invisible, and accademics. To put it simply, the rest could go find a door if they didn't like it. I didn't care. I still don't

I discovered my power 2 weeks ago today. I'm a scientist now, a year out of uni, aged 22. I just simply spread my arms out, and up, up, up into the air I went. I could fly! I can fly! I can't believe it! These types of things, they just don't happen. I decided I had to get away. If my family found out, they'd disown me. If my boy friend found out, he'd dump me. I had to get away. I just knew it. Otherwise, I'd be dead.

So, I quit my job, faked my own death spread my arms out, and went flying. Looking for somewhere else to go. Somewhere else to live. Somewhere to start my new life. I decided to change my name to Regina Fitzgerald. That way, no one would find out my true identity, and realise what I'd done.

I settled for a dessert and put my arms back at my sides. The small suitcase of belongings I carried in my right arm sped up my crash landing. I rushed, as fast as lightening, feeling the pull of gravity, as I fell on the ground with a large crash.

A man who looked around my age stepped out from behind a boulder and helped me up. "Thanks." I said. "I'm Re.." I almost blew my cover and said Reni. Oops. "Regina. I'm Reina." "Reece." Said the man. "Gosh! I've been stuck out here for so long, I never thought I'd see another human again." Reece exclaimed. He sounded happy, relieved even.

We became good friends as the weeks passed. He showed me how he had been living and helped me build my own home and furniture and all.

Over the weeks, I learnt that Reece also had a power. He could tell the future. "I could tell you were coming." Reece had told me, and then he had gone on to explain how he had a power and what it was. His twin brother Ivan, was a pilot. He had flown over the dessert with Reece, and thrown him out. Reece, with his future telling power knew it was coming and so, like I had done packed a little suitcase that he had taken with him.

Reece also told me that he too had taken on a new identity as Reece McDonald. He had then told me his original name- Reg McKenzie. I then told him mine- Reni FitzSimmons.

I loved life with Reece. It was really simple. Our friendship quickly turned into love. I ended up moving in with him, taking some of my stuff with me, including all the stuff in the suitcase I had bought with me to the dessert.

To this day, Reece and I still live happily in the desert in the middle of nowhere.

To Be Continued.......

The Magic Ball Point Pen

Eric's 8th birthday was only one day away. He was so excited. He'd been talking about it with his friends for ages now. His birthday celebrations at school had been that day, seeing as his actual birthday was on the weekend. The next day was when his family party was to be held.

The next day, at nine o' clock in the morning, the guests began arriving. After a while, it was time for Eric to open his presents. The last one he opened was from his nan. He slowly but carefully unwrapped it. It was revealed to be a 4 ball point pen. "Oh Nan!" He complained. "Oh but it's not just any pen deary, it's a special pen. A magic pen. " Eric's nan, Shirley told him. "How does it work?" Eric asked, suddenly interested. "You must read the instructions carefully." Shirley instructed him. "Yes Nan." Eric promised.

That night, Eric put on the CD with the instructions. The CD explained that there were 5 rules:

1. don't push more than 1 ball down at a time

2. Once you press the ball down, the adventure begins

3. you can only go on each adventure once.

4. to get out of the adventure, walk through the door coloured the same as the ball you pushed down and

5. you may not return from the adventure until the problem has been solved.

"Adventure? What adventure?" Eric wondered out aloud. He figured that the best way to find out was to do it.

So. he pushed one of the balls down, and almost immediately he was transported somewhere else. He looked over his shoulder. There was a long , narrow stream running off a water fall. "Thank heavens you're here." Said a voice. "Down here, sir." It came again. Eric looked down. There, standing beside him was a short little man. "Our water is polluted. The trolls are putting their rubbish into the little pool at the top." The little man continued. 'This must be the problem I have to solve.' Eric thought.

Eric followed the little gnome up the hill, to where the trolls stood, emptying their garbage bins into the water. "Excuse me," Eric said, not quite loud enough to be heard. "Excuse me." He tried again, raising his voice a little this time. "Yes?" A tall, plump troll that appeared to be the troll's leader turned around to face Eric. "I was just wondering, might there be somewhere else you can dispose of your rubbish?" Eric asked, timidly. "No!" The troll shouted firmly, his voice thundering so much it shook the ground. The troll was angry now.

"Oh dear." The gnome whispered to Eric. "Once you get them angry, there's no reasoning with them. They get dangerous when they're angry. Oh do be careful." The gnome worried. "Of course." Eric whispered back. "Please, Mr. Troll. You see, your rubbish is polluting the gnome's water." Eric turned back to the troll, pleading. "I said no. Now stop messing about with me!" The troll roared. "Quick! We must get away!" The gnome cried, grabbing Eric's hand and breaking into a run.

Eric paced in the gnome's living room as he tried to think up a plan.

After much discussion with the gnome, Eric thought up a plan. So, with the help of all the gnomes in the area, Eric and his gnome friend built a huge gate, blocking off the clearing at the top of the waterfall, so the trolls couldn't get in. After that, they created a secret entrance for the gnomes to go in and out as they pleased.

After all of this was completed, a blue door the same colour as the ball Eric had pushed down appeared. "Goodbye!" He waved to the gnome and his friends before stepping through the door. "Farewell, kind friend!" The gnomes waved back to Eric. With that, he stepped through the door and returned home, in his bedroom. Just like nothing had ever happened.

That night, as Eric's mother tucked him into bed, Eric trid to tell her of the magic pen and the adventure he had had that day. "That's nice Eric. I'm sure you had a freat time. Now try to get some rest." His mother sighed. She didn't believe him. She knew that nothing like that could ever happen. 'What nonsense has my Mother put into that boy's head now?' She thought as she turned out the light and left the room.

But Eric knew it was true. He still believes it is tue. But he doesn't believe. He knows.

To this day, Eric still regularly goes on adventures and has great fun doing it.

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For Michael, let your imagination run wild! Happy 8th birthday.

Abandoned

Wendy was small when she was abandoned by her parents. Her grandparents had found her on their front doorstep, in a basket, a small suitcase next to it and a note sitting at little Baby Wendy's feet.

They took her in. Her grandfather took the note from the basket and read it. "Mum and Dad, I am a mess, I'm afraid I can't tell you what's going on apart from the fact that Ive gone crazy. Please take care of Wendy for me. She doesn't deserve to be where I am. I hope you can forgive me, Moira." It read. So they did as Moira had asked, and looked after Wendy and raised her as their own.

Wendy never knew anything of her mother, she thought that her grandparents must have been her parents. That was until her grandmother, Susan sat with her three days after her seventeenth birthday and told her everything.

"So you're not my parents, your my grandparents?" Wendy concluded. "That's right dear." Susan nswered. "Where are my parents then?" "I wouldn't have a clue. They left you on our door step and fled. You were three weeks old. " Susan explained. "Wait right there, Wendy. I want to show you something. I'll be right back." Susan told her, and bustled out of the room. She returned, moments later with the note Wendy had been left with, the basket she had come in and the suitcase that had been left with her, all the things still inside it.

Then, Susan handed Wendy two notes, one from her mother and one from her father. "There was a list of instructions your grandfather and I found inside the suitcase. We didn't follow any but one of them. That was their wish for us to tell you of them three days after your seventeenth birthday." Susan said. "So we did," concluded Wendy's grandfather Fred, walking into the room and joining Wendy and Susan on the couch.

"I want nothing to do with them." Wendy decided after examining everything her parents had left behind. "They can't abandon me like they did and then come back, begging me to take them back. It's not right and it's not happening" "That's alright, Wendy. It is your choice, Love." Fred reminded her, gently patting her on the back. "Good on you." He added quickly. "We wanted you to have a choice, Wendy, we wanted you to know the truth. "

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dedicated to Grandad, thanks for always being there when I need you the most. Happy Father's day!

Scarlet's Special Surprise Birthday

Scarlet had one wish for her seventh birthday. She wanted a birthday party. A big one, with all her friends and family. So as a huge surprise, her parentds through her one. Scarlet didn't know a thing about it. Well she didn't until she walked into her house on Saturday afternoon with her mother. Everyone jumped out from the behind the furniture, "surprise!" They all yelled.

"Happy birthday, Scarlet." Scarlet's father stepped out from the crowd, her little brother Rowan following close behind. Scarlet's father was holding out a white birthday cake drizzled with pale pink icing. There were seven, bright pink candles lighting up the space around them. "Make a wish." Whispered Scarlet's mother Blanche whispered to Scarlet. Scarlet puled back her hair and blew out all seven candles in one breath. "Happy birthday Scarlet!" Everyone cheered.

Next came presents. Scarlet sat on a lounge chair and everyone gathered round. Her little brother Rowan helped with the presents, passing them to her as she went.

The first she opened was from one of her friends, Marina. It was a small dolphin charm. Scarlet and Marina had that in common, the fact that they both loved dolphins. Next she opened Lilly's gift, another friend from school. It was a purple poppy charm. Next came a leaf charm from another school friend, Olive and then a heart charm and a charm braclet from her best friend, Rachel. Her family gave her parents too. Too many to mention all in one go though. Way too many! Scarlet's family loved spoiling her!

"Where's Nan and Pop?" Scarlet asked suddenly. "They couldn't make it sweet heart." Blanche said gently. "Really? Why not?" Asked Scarlet. "Their car broke down. I'm sorry Sweet heart." Blanche said, sympathetically. "But they did promise to take you on a picnic tomorrow instead." Scarlet's father Oliver put in. "Ok." Scarlet agreed.

Sure enough, just as they had promised, they took Scarlet out for a picnic the very next day. They went to Scarlet's favourite park and had all her favourite food, honey sandwiches, fairy bread, apple muffins, strawberry tarts and even a birthday cake. Scarlet had an absolute ball. They were out with her for a while, and returned Scarlet home at around 3 that afternoon. Scarlet had had a ball.

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Dedicated to my cousin, Louise. Happy seventh birthday gorgeous girl!

Deserted Honeymoon

My newlywed husband, Hayden and I had just been married. We were now sitting at the airport, waiting for our flight to Paris. That was where we were going on our honeymoon. Or so we thought.

"Jet Star Flight JQ6540 to Paris will have a further delay of 1 and a half hours. Jet Star sincerely apologises for the delay, and any inconvienience this may cause. Thankyou." That was our flight. Great! Hayden and I had already been waiting for an hour and a half. We may as well have gone home right then and there. But we didn't. "Great! Claire, what do you want to do now?" Hayden groaned. He leant against my shoulder. He was tired enough as it was from the wedding and all that. We should have stayed the night in a hotel and flown out the next day. But we didn't. We were kind of stuck here now anyway, so what was the point in thinking about it.

Our flight came, after a long wait and we got on board right away. I fell asleep on Hayden's shoulder, and when I woke up to read for a bit, he fell asleep on mine. The trip was exhausting.

Halfway through the flight, we began to drop. We began to fall, racing down towards the ground. We were going to crash. I could feel it. We were rushing. Down, down, down. Rapidly decending.

This went on for maybe, say 15 minutes before we came to a complete stop. "Right. Everyone out of the plane please." The pilot instructed. "Hayden, wake up." I nudged the sleeping Hayden next to me. "Huh? What? What's going on?" He asked grogilly. "We've got to get off the plane now. Quick." I tugged his arm.

When we were safetly out of the plane, where we were really hit. Both Hayden and I "This isn't Paris." I was not happy. "Where are we Hun?" Hayden groaned. Even though we had slept half the trip each, he was still tired. Probably all the wedding stuff I guessed. "I don't know. But let's go and find out." I pulled him along, towards the flight attendants, who were all gathered at the head of the plane. "Where are we?" I demanded from one of them. "I'm sorry Miss. We'll be in Paris soon enough. But it may take a while. They're sending another plane to take you there as soon as possible." She explained. "Well that doesn't help much." I muttered, to myself, so that only Hayden and I could hear.

Hayden and I spent the next 3 hours making ourselves a little shack out of all the resources we could find. When we finally finished, Hayden collapsed and fell asleep on the bed we had made from logs and huge leaf fronds. It was a double bed we had made, so I settled on the other side and read my book a while.

We ended up staying in the desert in the middle of nowhere for at least 3 weeks before we were rescued.

Hayden and I loved it. We had made quite a little house for ourselves out of all we could find around the place. We used heaps of sticks and vines to make the walls, sand for the fllors covered by large palm fronds and doorways were left as a space we could walk through. tables, we piled sticks on top of eachother to make a rectangular shape. Then we made chairs the same, way but in a chair shape.

It was fun trying to figure out how to make everyday household obbjects out of stuff like sticks, sand, palm fronds, sand, wetsand, dirt and all the other things we had brought and could find. But I must say it was a challenge, and very draining!

We were rescued three weeks after crash landing in the dessert. I must say, I was very relived to go home. As was Hayden.

We still haven't been to Paris yet. We the crash landing in the desert to be our honeymoon instead. However, we do plan to go to Paris in the very near future, for our upcoming first anniversary.

What's in a Name?

Chrissie was twenty four when she began to wonder about the origins of her name. 'Chrissie- where could her mother have gotten that from?' She wondered.

So she went to her mother and asked her. "Mum, why did you call me Chrissie?" "In honour of your father Dear." Her mother replied. "What? In honour of Dad?" Chrissie didn't understand. "In honour of your father." Chrissie's mother Jane repeated. "You know the flower, chysanthemums?" "Yeah. What about them?" Chrissie asked. "Your father loved them. So when he died. a few months before you were born, I decided to name you as close as I could to him." Jane explained. "Since you were a girl, I named you after his favourite flower." "In his honour." Chrissie concluded. "Yes. Exactly." Jane agreed.

Chrissie wanted to learn even more about her father now that she knew she had been named after him. So, she took a week off work to learn more of him.

On Sunday, she went to visit his grave. She bought chysanthemums and brought them there. She layed them at the head of the gravestone, along with a letter she had written him. Chrissie knew he would never read it, but it made her feel better, more close to him. That made her feel good.

Monday, Chrissie went through everything of his with her mother. With each item they pulled out, came a story. Jane would sit there, opposite Chrissie, holding the item as she told the story that went with it.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, she went to visit her father's parents. That helped Chrissie with her search a lot. From her grandparents, she found out that she had another half sister. His other daughter, Ruby.

So on Friday and Saturday, Chrissie went to visit her. Ruby was a year younger then Chrissie, 23.

Ruby at first was confused at first, with Chrissie turning up and all. That was until Ruby explained the whole thing. Ruby didn't know much. She just knew that her mother had had a little fling with him and then ran off. "So I probably know more asbout him then you do." Chrissie concluded. "Most likely." Ruby agreed.

It seemed to Chrissie that this had brought her and Ruby closer together. Before Chrissie left for home on Saturday afternoon, Ruby gave her contact details, so that they could keep in touch. Chrissie gave Ruby hers as well.

Not only had Chrissie found out loads of information about her father in that one week, but she had gained a new friend in Ruby.

As time passed, Chrissie and Ruby became the best of friends. To this day, they still are....

Blue Holiday

Five year old Jamie and his mother were driving on the freeway, from the Central Coast of NSW Australia down to Sydney. They were going to visit Jamie's mother Tanya's sister Natalia, who had just moved down to Hornsby with ther fiance Heath.

"What are those Mummy?" Jamie asked, pointing at some hills in the distance. The blue mountains. Jamie was a curious kid. "He'll be a smart one someday, Tanya. You just watch." His grandfather would always say. Tanya believed it. All she had to do was feed his mind. That was simple. All she had to do was answer all of his questions, so he had a lot of things to think about.

"That's the Blue Mountains, Jamie." Tanya explained. "Two weeks from now, when I have time off work, we'll go there, for a little holiday." She promised. "Ok." Jamie agreed.

The Blue Mountains was a special place for Tanya. It was where she had spent her last three years at high school, Where she had met, gone out with and marrried Jamie's father Nate and where Jamie had been born and grew up for 3 years. But most sadly, it was where Nate had passed away. Tanya, Nate and Jamie had gone horse riding. Jamie had been one and a half at the time. Nate had fallen off his horse. They had had another son, Hamish, who had been riding with Nate before the accident. Hamish had died as well.

Tanya's life, she would admit had been very hard. She had lost her husband and two children. Her other daughter, Megan had died in Tanya's womb. Tanya had had a still birth. That had been sad. Megan would have been nine now if she had been alive, Hamish would have been eight.

But now, Tanya felt ready. Ready to go back there again. She wanted to go back. One of the days, she planned to visit the cemetery where Nate, Megan and Hamish were burried, all together. It was about time Jamie knew. She wouldn't tell him the truth about the passings though. She might just tell him, Dadddy had the scarf wrapped too tight round his neck, Hamish jumped to high on the trampoline, or Megan ran too hard, smack bang into a wall. He didn't need to know the truth yet. Not the whole truth anyway.

So, Tanya and Jamie went to the Blue Mountains two weeks later, as planned. They had an absolute ball. Something magical happened while they were away. Tanya met someone. They had a fling. You could call it a 'winter romance.'

When they were due home, Tanya's new boyfried Tim came with her and Jamie. He said that he'd pack up his house and move down there to be with them.

As Tanya put it, on she and Tim's wedding day, "You were a flicker of light when my life was dim." Jamie, Tanya and Tim lived happily from then on and didn't have a care in the world. The small little family continued going to the Blue Mountains once a year every year. They went back to where it all began...

Adventure Date

Laura had been going out with her boyfriend, Caleb for a while now. Laura's best friend Sabrina had only just begun to go out with her boyfriend, Andrew. After three days of Sabrina and Andrew being together, Laura and Sabrina decided to plan a double date involving them and their two boyfriends.

They all came over to Sabrina's house the next weekend. "Why don't we go up the hill at the end of my street. We can have a picnic up the top. There's this lovely little clearing.." Sabrina started. "Sounds great." Laura agreed. "Whatever you want, darl." Andrew and Caleb said at the same time. "Alright, let's go." Laura decided, holding her hand out in front of Caleb. Caleb took it, and they walked out of the house, hand in hand, closely followed by Andrew and Sabrina.

The four friends hiked up the hill, up and up and up. Finally, after what seemed like years of climbing, they reached Sabrina's favourite clearing on the top of the hill. Laura and Sabrina set up the picnic basket and rug, whilst Andrew and Caleb looked around and explored.

Andrew, Caleb, Laura and Sabrina sat down to afternoon tea. Laura had set out muffins, fruit and scones. Sabrina had set out juice, water and cordial. "This is great, hon." Andrew commented, bitting into a scone. "Sure is. You're well right there, Andrew." Caleb agreed, biting a piece off his apple muffin. "Delicious!" Laura concluded. "Thanks guys." Sabrina blushed.

After afternoon tea, the four friends set back down the hill. But this time they went a different way, a longer way. It was a bush walk this time. In the middle of it, they found another clearing. A clearing with a large, narrow fresh water creek running right through the middle of it. Bushes of flowers outlined the clearing.

Caleb found a huge rock, near the bush trail they came out of. "Hey guys! Look at this!" He called to his friends. They all came over and joined him sitting on the rock.

They got so caught up in the magical view before them, that they lost track of time, and before they knew it, the sun was setting. "Quick! Let's go! It's getting dark." Sabrina jumped up, pulling Laura with one arm and Andrew in the other. Laura and Andrew both grabbed Caleb and they raced, against time to get back to Sabrina's house before the sun set.

Laura, Sabrina, Andrew and Caleb reached the top of the last hill. They could see Sabrina's house just at the bottom of the hill. So they joined hands, and flew down the hill.

The sun set just as they entered Sabrina's house.

They all look forward to another fun adveture very soon.

Locked Out

Maria was in year 9 at high school. She wasn't all that smart. She was in all the lowest classes. Well at leaast she couldn't get any worse. That was a good thing at least. Although, Maria did have two good friends at school. Ellie and Dana.

One afternoon, on a Friday, when Maria arrived at her doorstep, she realised that she had lost something. Her keys. She had lost her keys. Her keys! 'How dumber could I be?' She wondered. 'not a lot.' Her mind told her back. She searched her bag a second time. Then a third, a forth, a fifth and finally a sixth. Still no keys. Her mother wouldn't be home for hours, and her father was overseas. She could always just sit and wait outside the house until her mum got home.

No. Maria wouldn't do that, she couldn't. So she went to her grandparent's granny flat in the back of the yard. They were off holidaying at the minute. Over in a nice sunny spot. Maria found the secret key to their flat that her grandmother had shown her.

She let herself in and searched the flat for a set of keys. Maria tried each set on each lock on her house. Not a one worked. So, out of sheer desperation, Maria went back into the flat and found one last set of keys. That opened her grandfather's shed. The shed, contained a spare key to Maria's house.

So, delighted that she had found what she had been desperatly searching for, Maria grabbed the keys in one hand, locked the shed with the other set and gone to her house, where she finally set foot into the nice, warm cosy little abode. She then returned all the keys to their places, and that was that.

No one knew anything of the matter, until many years later, Maria told her grand daughter of the situation when she was upset about locking herself out of her own house.

The Call of Destiny

Michael had been sick for many months now. He had gotten cancer at the young age of 23. He had been battling for two years.

On this particular day, of late 1994, he lay in his hospital bed, his girlfriend Amanda, sitting by his bed the whole time, squeezing his hand tight. The doctors had informed the two that they were basically making Michael comfortable until the day of his passing.

"Are you absolutely sure there is nothing more you can do for him?" Amanda had gone outside Michael's private hospital room to debate with his doctors over the matter.

Amanda's cousin and her boyfriend rushed by Michael's hospital room, Amanda's cousin Taylor in a hospital bed, her boyfriend Josh running to keep up with her, holding her hand tight, just as Amanda had done so with Michael.

"Go." Michael reassured Amanda, patting her arm. "I'll be alright." So, knowing she had Michael's permission, she raced after them, and began racing with the bed, on the other side of Taylor. "What happened?" She called to Josh over the noise. "I came home, and found her like this, in the loungeroom.Unconcious " Josh shouted back. "Oh." Amanda said, more quietly to herself. "It's alright, I've got your number, I'll call you when we're settled in a room." Josh told Amada. "Ok. Mabye I could bring Michael over, if he's feeling up to it." Amanda suggested. "Sure. I'm sure Taylor would love to see you and Michael. When she wakes up. If she wakes up." Josh said sadly. "She will. Think positive Josh!" Amada called back to him over her shoulder as she ran back to Michael's room.

Later on that day, Amanda nd Michael went to see Taylor and Josh in Taylor's room. "Hey." Taylor greeted them, weakly. "HOw are you feeling?" Amanda asked. "Not great." Taylor said. "What about you Michael?" She turned to Michael who was sitting in his wheelchair, next to Amanda, opposite Josh. "Better than I have done." Michael replied, a glimer of hope in his voice.

Josh and Taylor soon got the same news Amanda and Michael had done just three days before. "We'll make her comfortable, until she passes. But there is nothing else we can do. " The doctors would keep on saying.

So as a nice thought, Amanda and Josh organised for Taylor and Michael to be put in the same room. That way, when Josh and Amanda weren't there, they would have someone to keep them company.

It was five days later that the day came. Taylor and Mochael could just feel it. "Today's the day. I can feel it. I'm sorry." They'd both say.

When the time came, Taylor was holding Michael's hand on one side, and Josh's on the other. Michael was holding Taylor's on one side, and Amanda's on the other. With their spare hands, Josh and Amanda each sat, tenderly stroked their partner.

"You ready Taylor?" Michael turned to Taylor in his bed. He looked back over at Amanda and kissed and hugged her as if to say goodbye. "I love you Amanda, I always will, my love." He told her and turned back to Taylor, still holding Amada's hand tight. "Ready." Taylor replied. She turned to Josh. "I love you Josh. Always have, and always will." She said, kissing and hugging him.

Michael then gave Amada a ring. "I was going to as you to do me the honour of becoming my wife, but that won't happen now. So take this, and never forget me, my Amanda." Michael explained, handing Amanda a small box, which she opened and slipped it's contents, a small diamond ring onto her finger.

Taylor gave to Josh a watch. "Never forget me Josh. I will love you forever." She said, fastening it around Josh's held out wrist.

"I love you." Were Taylor and Michael's final words, before their eyelids closed.

In the months that followed, Josh and Amanda helped eachother get over the ordeal. As if like Taylor and Michael were bringing them together, from heaven above, they fell in love and were married a year later.

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Dedicated to the memory of my uncle, Jeffery and to my angel's dear son Charles, may they rest in peace and live forever in our hearts, and be with us in spirit, watching over us from up above

& to anyone who has ever lost someone dear in their lives, may they be remembered and live in spirit each and every day.

Ball Of Death

I was at home with my Dad, playing out in the yard with our dog, Rusty, when Mum, my big sister Dana and my little brother Tom arrived home from grocery shopping.

Dad and I left Rusty and went inside to help Mum unpack. Halfway through the unpacking, I found a rubbery flat thing in a circular shape packaged in a box in one of the bags. "What's this?" I asked Mum, holding it up in the air like it was a huge gold medal I'd won.

"Oh that?" Said Mum, looking up. "That's just a silly old gym ball. Don't worry about it." "Ok." I said, put it down and walked away.

Later on that day, I sat on Mum's bed, watching as she blew up this mysterious 'gym ball'. As she blew, it grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger until it was slightly bigger then my two year old little brother Tom. "Whoa! That's huge." I said, flabborgasted. "That's the way your Dad and I like it Jake, that's all." Mum reasoned. I didn't really want a reson. But no matter, I got it anyway.

A few days later, when I was lying, innocently on my bedroom floor. I saw it. A huge, blue, round shape I figured must have been the ball. It came charging towards me, just like a bull does when it sees the colour red. I put my head down, just in time.

It could feel it, over my legs, squashing me t the ground, then my chest, my shoulders, and finally my head. I flail my arms above my head, just in time to catch it. I sat up, the huge boulder of a ball still in my hands to examine what had flattened me. Just as i suspected the culprit was, indeed, Mum's gym ball. The other culprit, I realised was standing in my doorway. "Yay! Yay! Again! Again! Jake funny." Squealed Tom, the two year old mischief maker I had as a brother. "No Tom, not sgain." I sighed, lifting the ball from above me and shoving it over my head, where it bounced along violently, until finally settling in the corner of my room. "But what we can do," I continued, wrapping my arm around his small frame, "is play a trick on Dana."

Love Games

Jen and Matt had been going out for a long time. It was young love, the best kind. They were both still in high school and as in love as ever.

One day, before the school bell rang in indication for the beginning of classes, Jen and Matt were being silly. Really silly They were flirting, and playing around at the same time. Zoe, Jen's best friend, saw the whole thing.

It all began when Matt accidentally nudged Jen a bit too hard on the arm, and then everything unfolded from there.

Jen would run in circles around Zoe, Matt chassing her the whole time. "No!" Jen weould scream playfully. "Don't come near me!" "Ok." Matt would say in mock anger. "I won't." He would say and walk off. He'd coming running back 5 minutes later, a mock sad look on his face. "I can't live without you." He would say, hugging Jen tight. They would then kiss and make up.

About three minutes later, the whole thing would repeat itself. Zoe ended up standing back, against a brick wall one time. To get out of their way. After all, she didn't want to be knocked over. Or hit.

"And in three, two one." Zoe glanced up her watch and then up at Jen and Matt again. Sure enough, they haad begun another round of the love game.

"What's going on here?" Mia, Zoe and Jen's other best friend asked, rushing towards Zoe when she arrived. "Jen and Matt are being stiupid." Zoe explained. "Right." Mia agreed, observing the scene in front of them. "Hey? what?" Jen turned to Zoe and Mia. "We heard our names." Matt said. Well that had certainly got their attention. Zoe decided to put that in the back of her mind to use later. "Nothing, nothing." Zoe said "No, we heard our names. Now what was it?" Jen asked. "It's ok. Npothing bad." Mia reasoned. "Ok." JEn finally agreed.

Matt and Jen played love games often. But in the future, Zoe knew to just watch and laugh as they frollicked and played in the sun.

They looked like a fairytale, playing love games like that. Like two people so much in love, nothing could ever break it. Well, that was Zoe's opinion anyway. She didn't know about the rest of the world, but to her that was just how Jen and Matt looked.

A Promise From The Heart

When Lana's best friend, Amelia was starting to feel like she was losing Lana to Lana's boyfriend Tim, Lana almost dumped him completely. That was the last thing Amelia wanted. Amelia only wanted Lana's happines. That was all she wanted.

"No Lana, don't." She begged. "But if it's what you want, and if it means I won't loose you, I will."Lana reasoned. "No. Don't Lana. You may think I hate you and Tim but if anything, it's the complete opposite." Amelia explained. "I just wish that I could talk to you sometimes. Without him, well you know, being there." "We'll talk. Tomorrow. Just you and me, promise." Lana promised her. "Ok, thank you." Amelia said.

Dreams

Naomi's favourite part of the day, eversince she was 5 was going to sleep. Sleeping so that she could dream. Naomi loved dreaming. When she dreamt, she escaped from reality. She fealt free. Like a board soaring through the clouds.

Naomi's dreams always started with her floating up high in the sky on a big, white, soft and fluffy cloud. It'd take her up to a gate which she would walk through and her resl dream began.

It would always end the same too. She would walk out the gates, which would close behind her, step onto the cloud and it take her, floating down, down and then, she would wake up. That was how she knew the dream had ended. When the cloud had finished floating.

Naomi loved dreams until one day, Naomi didn't have a dream, but instead a nightmare. She was standing in the middle of a deserted street, surronded by family and friends at first. But then suddenly, one by one they dropped to the ground, just like logs that had been cut off a tree.

When Naomi, went to have a closer look at one of them, her mother, she found that her eyes were closed. She tried nudging her. Nothing. Calling to her. Silence, still no response.

Nexct thing she knew, Naomi was awake. She sat up in bed, screaming. Her mother rushed to her side. "Naomi, what's the matter?" She asked, worridly. "It.. I... They.." Naomi spluttered but was interupted by her mother. "Oh great. It's that time. SHe's had one." She muttered. "What's allthe comotion aboout?" Asked Naomi's father appearing in Naomi's doorway. Naomi's mother edged toward her husband. "She's had her first nightmare." Naomi's mother whispered her explanation into his ear. "Go back to sleep Naomi." He told her, looking up. "It'll all be ok in the morning." Naomi's mother agreed. And so Naomi did go back to sleep.

Naomi had another good dream for the rest of the night, and completely forgot about the nightmare.

Naomi still loves dreams, and still loves going to sleep every night so she can afford them.

The reason

Kelly had been picked on her whole life. So much that she was desperately trying to find a reason to go to school everyday. That reason soon came in the form of three people, Libby, Kate and Michael. When they came, Kelly longed to go to school everyday and be with them. They were the reason she did go to school everyday. They were her everything, her world. The reason she lived. The reason she survived life in high school.

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Dedicated to Chantal, John and Elizabeth. You 3 are the best things that have happened to me since my cousin Ronald with born. You are my angels and the true reason I go to school everyday.

Twiste of Fate

Lilly had lived in a very strict religious community all her life.

It was almost her 22nd birthday. That would be the day her parents decided who she would marry.

Lilly, along with her best friend Mia, who also lived in the community thought this was unfair. "Shouldn't we have a say in who it is we marry? I mean, we're the ones who are going to have to live with them for the rest of our lives. We should at least get a little bit of a say!" Mia had complained to Lilly one afternoon. "I reckon we both need a break. Why don't we go on a holiday?" Lilly decided. "Great idea. I definently need a break from this place." Miua agreed. "And besides, I'm sure Mr and Mrs rule their kids lives for them and don't let them have any freedom sour pants won't object to it." She continued, sourly. "Come on Mia. They might be a bit controlable and over protective at times but they're still our parents." Lilly pointed out. She still got annoyed by her parents, but she wasn't as out there about it as Mia was.

So it was agreed, Mia and Lilly would go away for two weeks starting next week. Despite having a holiday away to look forward to, Mia was still sour. "I hate them. I wish thwy'd back off for one minute! It's not like we can't live without people watchimg over us 24/7!" She would complain to Lilly day after day after day. One day Lilly cracked. "Mia, just stop it ok?! I'm sick of hearing it!" Lilly fumed. Mia immediately calmed down. Lilly must've been pretty sick of hearing it for her to get like this, after all Lilly never got like this. "Ok." Mia said quietly.

Finally, after what seemed like years of waiting it came time for Lilly and Mia to go on holidays. They were both looking forward to it, more than ever. They both truly, desperately needed a holiday to.

"It's so nice out here." Mia said, spinning around on the grass outside the cabin they were staying in. "The cool, fresh breeze, I can just smell the freedom here Mia." Lilly agreed.

On their third night away, Mia and Lilly had the time of their lives. They were out on the grass in front of their cabin, when two men appeared. "Come with us, beautiful ladies." Said one, holding his hand out to Lilly. "We'll show some good fun." Promised the other. "I don't know about this Mia." Lilly was a bit nervous. "Lilly, who cares. We're on holidays! We deserve to have a good time!" Mia pointed out. "True. Alright." Lilly agreed and so the men took them out.

They later found out that their names were James and Sam. "Thanks guys. We had a really great time tonight. Right Lilly?" Mia jabbed Lilly in the elbow, quite hard. "Right. Sure. Thanks." Lilly spluttered.

Lilly and Mia ended up going out with James and Sam every night for the rest of their holiday. On their lasty night away, James proposed to Lilly. "I can't." Lilly admitted, apologetically. "Why my Lilly?" James was shocked, as any man would be by the rejection of a proposal. "I'd be shunned." Lilly turned to Mia. "If you're shunned, I'm shunned." Mia promised. "We live in a really strict religious community. If we marry someone from outside that community, we'll be shunned." Mia explained, remembering the poor two guys standing before her and Lilly.

"Well in that case I will." Lilly agreed. "Better make that a double wedding mate." Sam elbowed James' side. "Mia," Sam turned to face Mia. "Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He dropped to one knee and presented a huge diamond ring in a box. "Of course I will!" Sam lifted Mia up in the air and spun her in circles.

"Well that's the Mr and Mrs No Freedom Sooky Pants problem solved isn't it?" Mia dangled her legs on the end of the dock near their cabin. "Yep. Looks like we're not going back." Lilly agreed.

Lilly, James, Mia and Sam were married 6 months later and Mia and Lilly lived happily in reality.

The Big Race

I wanted, so much to be a runner, get into the olympics mabye, hopefully.

My big break came when I was in year 9. My PE teacher, Mr. Lowe told me about it. "There's a race down at the local oval for your age group. It's on in two weeks, so I'd train hard if I were you Catherine." He had said. So I did. I trained until everything inside of me hurt like hell.

It was 3 days until the big race when it happened. I had been training, again. I broke my leg.

Mum took me to the doctor's that very afternoon. "I'm sorry, Catherine, you won't be able to compete in the race." The Doctor told me. 'Great!' I thought sarcastically, 'this could've been my big break.'

It was another 3 months until another race came up. I got to compete in that one. And I won. I won a scholarship, including a trainer, a 3 year membership to a gym, and a 5 year scholarship to a running school. It was my big break, and the best day of my life.

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dedicated to Elizabeth, the best runner in town. You are going to ace every single race you enter. I know you can!

Dream Love

Rose was 15 years old when she discovered who it was she really loved. Tyler. He was in all of Rose's classes.

He'd had numerous girlfriends. Rose on the other hand, was a first timer. She was desperate for him to notice her. So desperate, that she'd spend around fifteen minutes in front of the mirror each morning, checking her appearence was just right.

He finally noticed her after dumping his latest girlfriend, Kayla, the queen bee of the class the day before.

It all started when he greeted her the morning after he'd dumped Kayla, when he greeted her "Hey Rose" he had said to her. "Hi." Rose blushed. She was nervous, excited and suddenly shy all at the same time. She didn't know how a person could feel all of those emotions all at once, but she sure did feel them. Every single one of them.

The next day, when she went on facespace he had added her as a friend. Filled with delight, she accepted.

After a week of sitting next to Rose in class, Tyler finally asked her out. Again Rose accepted.

She ended up getting her wish, and they are still together to this day, as happy as larks.

Made for Each Other

There were once two people, Liam and Giselle. Giselle liked Liam, but didn't really act on it until after a harsh relationship had ended for her. Liam was just well, there. He was there right through the messy break up and for comfort and support afterwoods.

After a few days of Liam and Giselle being together, Janae and Hayley would keep stepping back to watch the two interact and be together. After at least two days of this, they decided that they looked like they were made for eachother, like the modern day 'Romeo and Juliet', minus the death of course.

Hayley would sit there during breaks just to watch them. For her, it was like Giselle had gotten every possible happiness she wanted, and deserved. Giselle would keep asking her why she did this, but Hayley wouldn't tell. All she said was "you'll soon see" and left it that, open for Giselle to find out.

Hayley and Janae never did tell Giselle, and to this day Giselle and Liam remain together, with every possible happiness, blessing and love possible.

Holidays

Once each year, Rita and her family would go on a holiday. Just to get away from reality for a bit, forget their worries and have a great time filled with fun.

On this particular year, Rita's family was set to go to Melbourne. Everything was booked, the flights, accomadation, even some of the places they would visit while they were down there. All the bags were packed.

But just two days before they were set to leave, Rita's little brother Tyler grew ill. It started out as a stomach bug, then it grew worse. Tyler described as 'a bag full of stones in his stomach.'

After a day, Rita's parents decided to take him to the doctor. "I'm afraid your son has appendicitus." The Doctor told them. "Oh dear. " Said Rita's father, upon hearing the news. "We were due to go to Melbourne tommorow. Rita will be so dissappointed." Rita's mother aggreed, equally dissaoointed and upset by the news. "Wel, you could still go." The Doctor replied. "But if you did, it would be almost certain that your son would die. He needs this operation if you want him to live Mr and Mrs Green. It's that simple. But I can understand your dissappointment." He went on.

Rita's parents, Alan and Heidi quickly picked Rita up from her friends house and raced, with Tyler to the hospital. He was admitted and the operation was scheduled for the next day. Heidi and Rita stayed by Tyler's side the whole time, whilst Alan spent hours on the phone cancelling everything for the holiday, postponing it if he could.

The family ended up going to Melbourne three months later. They had a wonderful time, and they all agreed that 'it was worth the wait'.

Miley the Miracle

Paige needed a friend a good friend. She was always having break downs, almost going insane and always getting picked on and the like. She found that friend when Miley came along.

Miley was everything Paige wanted and needed. She seemed to be and was the perfect friend.

She helped Paige to survive through thick and thin and was there for her whenever she needed it. In return, Paige tried to do the same for Miley. But she never truly knew whether or not she had succeeded. She thought she had, but she wasn;t sure.

Miley meant the world to Paige. And when Paige thought she was going to lose her, her heart slowly broke into a million pieces. She sat in her room for days on end. Crying. When she saw Miley at at school one day, Miley again worked her magic and helped Paige through one of the toughest times of her life.

To this day, Paige ad Miley are still the best of friends, and Miley still works her magic every now and again. Paige tries to as well.

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Dedicated to Elizabeth, the miracle angel magic worker that I love so dearly. I could never ever lose you, and If I did, my heart would break from the part of it you took with you when you left.

Star Struck

Five year old Lucy first met her favourite children's entertainers. Her pre-school had won a competition to have them come and perform at their pre-school. It was a band that came, the Rainbows they were called. There were six of them, Rosey Rachel, Bluey Bella, Olivey Odette, Violet Vanessa, Sunny Steph and Creamy Carmel. Lucy's favourite was Sunny Steph.

At the end of the concert, the children were given oppurtunities for photos and autographs. Lucy had a photo with the whole band. She got individual photos and autographs from everyone but Sunny Steph. Lucy was too scared to go up and ask. Her mother kept telling her but Lucy wouldn't She was a very stubborn little girl when she wanted to be.

Five years later, when Lucy was 10 she got out the pictures from the concert all those years ago. "Mum, why didn't you try to make me see sense and go get it signed?" Lucy asked. "I did try, Lucy. But you were so stubborn back then. You just wouldn't do it." Her mother explained. "So why didn't you do it for me?" Lucy was still stubborn, even now. "I wasn't as smart as you are Lucy. I just didn't think of doing that." Her mother admitted. "So why didn't you...." Lucy was interupted by her mother. "Stop it Lucy, just stop it ok?!" Her mother got angry and rushed out of the room, leaving Lucy alone with the album of that concert all those years ago.

To this day, Lucy still regrets the fact that she was too shy to confront Sunny Steph and hopes to confront a bigger fear sometime in the near future.....